Murder At The Agency by Kylie Forsythe

               Who knew the marketing world could be so dangerous?

Today, Wild Women Authors focus on Murder At The Agency, a contemporary murder mystery, recently released by Rowan Prose Publishing, and written by Illinois author, Kylie Forsythe.

About the Book: Just when it seems like everything in twenty-eight-year-old Cassidy Blayne's life is falling apart, a thrilling coffee shop encounter leads to the opportunity of a lifetime. Landing her dream job as Creative Director with an elite advertising firm in a nearby lakeside town fills her with renewed purpose. She’s no longer going to allow herself to settle and resolves to rebuild her life on her own terms.

But from the moment she steps foot out of the elevator, she senses things may not be as they seem at Turner & Nash Advertising. Despite her wariness, Cassie puts all her energy into landing her first big account. Arriving early on the day of the presentation, she's shocked to find one of the owners dead and herself a suspect.

She embarks on a desperate search for answers, unknowingly putting her and the people she cares about in danger. As she pieces things together with some help from her spunky new roommate, twin childhood best friends, an uptight detective, and a gorgeous up-and-coming rock star, warnings and threats escalate. It's clear the killer will stop at nothing to keep her quiet.

Cassie must risk everything to unravel the murder before someone takes her off the market for good.

What others are saying about this book:

“An irresistible start to what’s sure to be a binge-worthy series.”, USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox

Fans of “Olive You To Death” by Lynn Cahoon or “A Limited Edition Murder” by Lauren Elliott will enjoy “Murder At The Agency” by Kylie Forsythe.

Murder At The Agency can be found at: https://books2read.com/u/baXJVy

About our Focus Author: In addition to writing, Kylie Forsythe has been a 4th grade teacher for over twenty years. You will most likely find her reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends, or crafting her next book with her canine writing partner, Judah. She resides in Illinois with her husband and two daughters.

 

Willow Tree Tears

               Today, Wild Women Authors focus on Willow Tree Tears, a contemporary Western romance written by Mandy Eve Barnett and recently released by Rowan Prose Publishing

About Willow Tree Tears: For Madison, the quarter horse ranch life with her widowed father and the rodeo circuit are all she needs, apart from this year’s barrel racing championship. Romance is not on her radar. Her hurt heart needs protecting. But Colton, her foreman and good friend, has other plans.

Then, a chance encounter with a handsome Italian named Lucio ignites her long-buried passion. Madison finds herself in a love triangle where the choice of tradition and adventure clash with unexpected rivalry.

What others are saying about this book:  “Well-written and a fun read.” -Book Hoarder   and “. . . Fans of Elsie Silver, Kristen Proby, Devney Perry, Willow Aster, and Bailey Hannah will enjoy "Willow Tree Tears" by Mandy Eve-Barnett.

Willow Tree Tears can be found at: https://books2read.com/u/4Eakyg

About today’s focus author:  Mandy Eve-Barnett is a multi-genre author writing children’s, YA, and adult books. Every story has a basis of love, nature, magic, and mystery. Her passion for writing emerged later in life, and she’s making up for lost time. She regularly blogs at www.mandyevebarnett.com, where she encourages and supports the networking of writers and readers alike.

Mandy is currently the Secretary of her local writers’ group, the Writers Foundation of Strathcona County, and she hosts their monthly Writers Circle meetings. She’s past Secretary of the Alberta Authors Cooperative and past President of the Arts & Culture Council of Strathcona County Council.+ social media contacts

Simply to Die For

             Today, Wild Women Authors focus on Simply to Die For, a contemporary romantic suspense written by Maxine Douglas, and recently released by Rowan Prose Publishing.

About Simply To Die For: Clar Turner quit the porn-star business, leaving behind her Kandi Kyses persona to return her hometown and open a candy store. Until her BFF, Levi, is beaten and left for dead during filming. Now, she must become Kandi once again to find who’s responsible, and why her candy wrappers were at the scene of the crime. She calls upon her mentor to help assist in finding answers.

Reporter Jimmy O'Brien finds out the woman he’s loved and protected for years is on the “porn star” killer’s hit list. After Levi’s assault, Jimmy is both surprised and happy to see Clar back in LA. What he’s not thrilled about is her becoming Kandi again or the fact that a dirty detective he’s had a run-in with before is on the case.

Danger and secrets lurk around every corner. Passion mounts, but can they uncover the killer before he takes his revenge?

This is what others are saying about this book: “A root-worthy couple.” - InD'tale Magazine and . . . “. . . Fans of Shantel Tessier, Brynne Weaver, Penelope Douglas, and H. D. Carlton will enjoy Maxine Douglas . . .”

This book can be found at: https://books2read.com/u/4Nl9GJ

About today’s focus author: Maxine Douglas writes in several genres, including historical romance and romantic suspense. She is a current member of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. and its affiliations, Central Region Oklahoma Writers, and Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild. A widow and Wisconsin native, Maxine now resides in Oklahoma.

 

1. There’s a special place in Hell for women who don’t help other women.

 Madeleine Albright, former US Ambassador to the UN, refugee from Hitler's forces as a child said this about Fascism and those who practice it:

If you walk like a fascist, talk like a fascist, think the rules do not apply to you; 

if you seek to destroy the democratic institutions of your nation, solely to serve your won personal interests; 

if you foment revenge, violence, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny and racial intolerance; 

if you constantly lie to the people of your country; 

if you seek to destroy the credibility of news organizations to inoculate yourself against them reporting about you, 

if you knowingly collude with foreign powers to undermine the country’s electoral process; 

if you sell public policy, domestic and foreign, to the highest bidder, you just might be a Fascist.

Sound familiar, anyone?

Anyone?  

The Weight of Echoes by Erin Giannini

 One touch was all it took to change everything.

 Today, Wild Women Authors focus is on The Weight of Echoes, a contemporary YA paranormal, written by Erin Giannini and a current release out of Rowan Prose Publishing.

About today’s focus novel: Seventeen-year-old Veronica Simon has the ability to see—thoughts, memories, and even secrets—when she touches people. She hides this power from everyone, even herself, but most of all, the cult-like Faith Fellowship Congregation her dad drags her to every Sunday.

     Everything changes when she sees a disturbing vision of her estranged mom as she accidentally touches a Faith Fellow. Between that and her father’s uncharacteristic behavior, Veronica begins to realize something more sinister than lawyers and custody agreements have kept her mom away.

     With the help of her troubled crush, Veronica uncovers a trail leading straight to the shady head of the Faith Fellowship cult. But if they discover her powers, the web of conspiracy and secrets will put both their lives in danger. Veronica must decide how much—or who—she’s willing to risk to save her mom.

     Because if she fails, Faith Fellowship could destroy everything she cares about, including her life.

 What others are saying about this book: “. . . If you take City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab with Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle and add the structure of  The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew, you'll have The Weight Of Echoes.

 This book can be found at: https://books2read.com/u/4Eaxr0

 About our focus author: Erin Giannini has wanted to be a writer for longer than she cares to remember. She served as an editor and contributor at PopMatters, and currently writes both fiction and non-fiction, including books about TV shows like “Supernatural” and “The Good Place.” She loves to read and hopes to eventually have room for all her books, read and yet-to-be read.

The Plus One Pact by Suzy Langevin

 Today, Wild Women Authors focus on The Plus One Pact, a new adult romance written by Suzy Langevin and recently released by Rowan Prose Publishers.

About the Book: After years of hanging onto her insecurities and oversized hoodies, Alyssa has finally shed the old version of herself who felt the need to hide her brains and size twenty curves. Too bad she still can’t shed being hopelessly in love with her best friend from high school. When his wedding invitation arrives in the mail, Alyssa knows she needs to go for any hope of closure...or maybe give him one last chance to proclaim his love. And no way is she doing that alone. Her roommate offers up a solution to Alyssa's plus-one problem: Her roommate’s brother, Jeff.

     All his life, Jeff McCormick has only wanted one thing: To live up to his father’s expectations. Which has left him newly graduated from law school and grappling with an anxiety disorder. When his sister asks him to be her roommate’s date to a wedding, he agrees, but only if Alyssa will return the favor and be his guest at another wedding. Despite appearing to have it all together, anxiety has left him woefully single this wedding season.

     When their quid pro quo leads to an unexpected connection, they both must decide if they’re ready to move beyond their fears and take their relationship from pact partners to perfect match.

 What Others are Saying about Today’s Focus Book: “. . . Fans of “Weather Girl” by Rachel Lynn Solomon and “Take a Hint” by Dani Brown will enjoy “The Plus One Pact” by Suzy Langevin.

This book can be found at: https://books2read.com/u/4AlDq0

About Today’s Focus Author: Suzy Langevin loves love, even though she forgot how to say it in Latin when she was a contestant on Jeopardy! Her career as a clinical social worker, along with her own experience living with autoimmune disease and ADHD, allow her characters to embrace the tough stuff without it becoming a cliche, incorporating themes related to mental health and addiction with authenticity, heart, and humor. Suzy lives and writes in central Massachusetts

 

The Connie Murphy Mysteries, books 10-12

      Connie Murphy is a senior FDA investigator dedicated to protecting public health and safety. While conducting routine inspections, intrigue and danger intervene, and she gets involved in drug smuggling, food poisoning, economic fraud, industrial espionage, human trafficking, and identity theft. She uses her interviewing and interrogation skills to uncover problems when people are less forthcoming, hide documents or fail to tell the truth.

     Each story is based on real FDA cases with the names changed to protect the guilty.

 About the Connie Murphy Mysteries (eBooks 10-12):

KILL A THIRST - Local hospitals are overwhelmed with food poisoning cases. Is someone trying to eradicate the elderly and homeless populations on Long Island? Connie must navigate the competitive government organizations to determine if the cases are connected and use her investigative expertise and tenacity to reveal the cause for the illnesses before more people die.

 COMPOUND A PROBLEM - When Connie follows up a routine consumer complaint, she learns the company is making a nutritional supplement without FDA approval. The more questions she asks, the more pushback she gets. Her instincts tell her they are not disclosing everything. She suspects they may be doing something illegal and it is up to her to uncover what it is.

 A BITTER PILL - While inspecting a company manufacturing a nasal spray to reverse the effects of addictive opioids, Connie discovers an unapproved drug in an unauthorized human clinical trial. When management dodges her questions, she suspects they are hiding something and must find another way to gather the incriminating evidence.

 This set can be purchased at Amazon.com

Today we’re talking with BarbaraHelene Smith, author of the “Connie Murphy Mysteries”. Nice to see you again. Our listeners want to know where you get the ideas for your stories. That’s easy. The plots for the mysteries are based on real FDA cases – some I’ve worked on when I was an investigator, others are ripped from the headlines, and occasionally I dig into the FDA compliance archives. An alert may result from a consumer or trade complaint, manufacturer’s recall, or a problem found during routine inspections.

Once you have the idea, how do you go about writing the story? What is your process? When a problem is identified, Connie must follow a trail until the root cause is determined and the corrective action is initiated to prevent the problem from recurring.

I usually outline the major points in the case, which is the roadmap I follow. I may have to do additional research about a specific drug or the manufacturing procedure to better understand the details.

Once that is done, I add material about the location, people Connie interacts with – her colleagues, family, friends and other government agencies. The FDA does not work in a vacuum. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with the FBI, DEA, U.S. Customs, and state and local government agencies, and weave some of my experiences into the stories.

Each story goes through multiple drafts before I send the manuscript to other writers who have not read the earlier drafts, and then to the Editor, who catches spelling, grammar and punctuation errors I may have missed.

Do you have a specific place and time to write? I do most of my writing on the computer in my study. I’m a morning person and tend to write from seven until … I get tired or lose my focus – about 3-4 hours, unless I’m on a roll.

Writing can be a lonely occupation and you can’t do it alone. I attend writing classes and seminars, and belong to critique groups where we read and discuss our stories with other writers who belong to different genres. Their critiques provide valuable feedback for improvement.

How long does it take to write a book? It depends on the length of the story, but I usually write an e-book in eight to ten months. I’ve now been working on a novella. “Uprooting the Family Tree”, for two years,  which I plan to publish this summer.

That’s a long time to be focused on one project. We’re looking forward to reading it. Thank you, BarbaraHelene, for sharing your writing experience with us.