Come and meet...

... friend and author, David Beckler.  I first came across David at a CWA lunch where we authors could debate the trials and tribulations of the world of writing and publishing.  Since then, I've had the great pleasure to catch up with David at other similar events at various locations across the north of England.  And now, David is here on my blog.  Come and meet this fascinating writer...

I write fast-paced action thrillers populated with well-rounded characters.  Born in Addis Ababa, I spent my first eight years living on an agricultural college in rural Ethiopia, where my love of reading developed.  After dropping out of university, I became a firefighter and served 19 years before leaving to start my own business.  I began writing in 2010 and use my work experiences to add realism to my fiction.  The Mason and Sterling series centres on two ex-Royal Marines, Byron, who now runs a security company and Adam, who is a firefighter.  A strong cast of characters support my protagonists.  Brotherhood, is the first in the series with The Profit Motive, the second which is set in Manchester and Wenzhou, China.

I live in Manchester, my adopted home since 1984.  In my spare time, I try to keep fit—an increasingly difficult undertaking—listen to music, socialise and feed my voracious book habit.

about the book … When firefighter Adam Sterling rescues glamorous businesswoman Kate Hetherington from a road smash, he has no idea of the impact it will have on his life. 

Kate’s father, James, is badly injured in a car crash in Wenzhou, China. Senior Inspector Jie Gang is convinced it was an attempt on the man’s life, but he’s not allowed to say so.

Kate asks half-Chinese Adam to help her find out what’s going on. When James disappears, Adam recruits fellow ex-Royal Marine and best friend, Byron Mason, to assist him in the search.

They arrive in China to find Jie struggling. Not only is he facing an implacable assassin Zhang, but opposition from powerful interests who want him off the case.

Then Kate disappears, but who has taken her? The police seem reluctant to search for her, but unable to speak the language, unfamiliar with the city, and without any allies, Adam and Byron are up against it. When they seem to be getting somewhere, a rescue operation goes wrong, and Zhang turns his attention on the two men.

As they frantically search for Kate and James, they have to keep out of Zhang’s clutches, and avoid the authorities.

Will they find them in time and discover who is behind the attacks?

You can get the book Here

You can follow David on his website  on Facebook and on Twitter

If you are coming to the Death in the Dales Festival of Crime in October, David will be joining Wendy and me in a panel discussion about using foreign locations in our books.  You can read more about the Festival of Crime Here

I am very pleased to announce...

From top left : PC Arseneault, A Cormier, C Sweet, S Bunting
S Casey, A Hudson, SC Eston, Yours truly, E Monroe, G Murray
 

...that a new series of linked anthologies from the Seasonal Collective has been devised. Read on to find out more ...

Having completed the four Seasonal Paths anthologies - you can read about those Here - we have gone on to start a new project.  The group is still working cross-Atlantic as before, but we have some new faces in the team as well.

The first in a new series of anthologies linked by the elements—earth, air, fire, and water—is now available.

For this book, we have ten stories in various genres, from some writers you will recognise, and some new ones that you may not have come across before.  The stories have been fascinating to read as each one has become available to us.

All in all, they will transport you to different worlds, through various times, and on compelling emotional journeys as you progress through the book.

...about the book  Earth, An Anthology, is the first in a compelling four-part series that celebrates our planet in a smorgasbord of unforgettable short stories.

Ten best-selling and award-winning authors who call the North Atlantic home, share their vivid imaginations in these tales of intrigue and adventure. From potato farm mayhem; investigating mysterious jagged trenches; a voice from the past, a grim discovery, and a quest for a lost sword, to life lessons; seductive sparkle and fire; questioning the balance between good and bad; and someone – or something – that threatens the existence of Warden McCabe — Earth, An Anthology, is a treasure trove of pure entertainment.

So tuck into your favourite armchair and experience our world as never before. 

I hope you will enjoy our new set of offerings, and you can get the book on Amazon

Please welcome friend and author ...

... Michele Pariza Wacek to my blog this week.  Thanks so much for being here today.  Tell me, Michele, what is your current release?

MPW The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ghost.

AW   Hmm, that sounds interesting.  What first got you into writing and why?

MPW When I was three years old, I taught myself to read because I wanted to write stories so badly.  Once I learned how to write, I then spent most of my life focusing on mastering it.  (For example, along with writing fiction, I also owned a company that wrote sales copy for businesses.)

AW  You write mysteries from Cosy Crime right through to psychological thrillers.  Is it all imagination, or do you do research?

MPW It’s mostly my imagination but I will do some research.  As much as I can, I like to make sure the facts are right and the events are (mostly) realistic.

AW  Have you tried/dabbled with other genres or writing for other forms of media?

MPW I’ve done lots of different writing.  Along with writing sales copy (which I did for over twenty years), I’ve written articles and nonfiction books, and I also write psychological thrillers.

AW  Famous authors such as Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas had a special space for writing.  Do you have a writing shed of your own?

MPW I will very soon.  Right now I’m writing on my dining room table, but eventually I’m going to set up my office in the loft.  I haven’t yet because my old dog can no longer climb stairs, and she likes to be with me while I work.

AW   And finally, what would your eight-year-old self think, and say about you and your achievements today?

MPW I think my eight-year-old self would be both happy and sad.  Happy that I’m finally doing what my eight-year-old self wanted to be doing (aka writing and publishing books), but also sad that it took me years before I finally got here.  (While building my copywriting company, I mostly put my fiction writing dreams on hold, and I do regret doing that.)  I also think my eight-year-old self would be a little confused by the whole idea of self publishing and would have wanted to know why I don’t have an agent or a “real” publisher, lol.

about the author … A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly.  It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories.  Mystery stories, to be exact.  They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook.  (Spoiler alert, she's not.  Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)

about the book … Emily Hildebrandt is learning to settle into some of the very strange cases that come through The Redemption Detective Agency’s door.

Like Aunt Tilde’s friend Ruth who claims she’s lost a ghost.

How does one lose a ghost?  Apparently when the ghost decides to walk out the door.

But, to make matters more complicated, it’s not just any ghost but the ghost of Ruth’s dead husband.  Who was murdered decades ago under very suspicious circumstances.

Emily has no choice but to go back in time and figure out what really happened to Ruth’s husband, in order for everyone to rest in peace.

You can get the book  Here

You can follow Michele on her Amazon Author Page her Website or on Goodreads  Facebook  Instagram and on Youtube 

A tribute to an old friend ...

I’m not running with my planned post for today.  Apologies if you were hoping to read more about my journey along La Loire.  That post will now run on October 7th.

Today, I want to pay tribute to an old friend who has, very sadly, died.  You have met him once before on this blog, although I was appropriately respectful in making my mention.  You can read that earlier post Here

Jan Kleiboer was husband to Nieske, father, grandfather and a great interlocutor and camper.  Jan and his wife came to one of my favourite campsites in the Marne Valley.  They spent many summers there and over twenty years, and more, I had the great privilege to get to know them as my tours across France sometimes coincided with theirs.  There were many times when I was able to listen to Jan discussing this or that, the EU often, and many other subjects that he felt passionate about.  

So, it is with great sadness that I say rest in peace old friend.  Thoughts are with Nieske and the rest of your family.  

For me, returning to the campsite in the Marne valley will always be tinged with a sense of loss.