Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car Review

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ARTHUR ZARR’S AMAZING ART CAR

by Cathey Graham Nickell

Illustrated by Bill Megenhardt

Genre: Children’s Picture Book/Outsider Art

Publisher: Twenty-Eight Creative

Date of Publication: November, 2015

# of pages: 40

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Arthur Zarr is a quiet man with few friends. His life is rather plain, and his car is plain, too. But not for long! When Arthur gets a creative idea to add everyday objects to his car’s plain exterior, he’s noticed for the first time. Neighbors and other bystanders add their own artistic flair to the car, too.

What happens when he enters his bedazzled vehicle in the town’s art car parade? Mr. Zarr finds happiness and makes friends by building an amazing art car. In this whimsical story, children learn about recycling, community, friendship building, and the power of imagination. The book includes a “History of Art Cars” page for readers who’ve never heard of this creative form of artistic expression. It also has a subtle ABC theme, as Arthur Zarr adds objects to his art car in alphabetical order! This is the first—and so far, the only—children’s book published about an art car. Suitable for all ages but especially ages 4-8. Illustrated by Houston graphic artist, Bill Megenhardt.

Praise for Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car:

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“Nickell’s book is a treat for sight, sound, and sense, for readers and artcarfans (no, you won’t find the word in your dictionary just yet, anyway) of all levels.” —Lone Star Literary Life.

“A wonderful story of art, opening up to the joys of life, and celebrating the artist in everyone.”—Lynette Wallace, Executive Director, Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, Houston, Texas.

“Cathey Nickell’s book will help fuel the desire to make positive changes in our world through artistic endeavor.”—Alicia Duplan, Assistant Director, Art Car Museum, Houston, Texas.

“Cathey’s story. . . is both engaging and warm. By the end, I found myself rooting for Mr. Zarr. I even felt a small twinge of disappointment when he didn’t win the trophy. Artcar Nation highly recommends this book. Give it to all the children you know.”— Paul McRae, Artcar Nation.

My Review

Children’s books do not just entertain but they inspire. Every wild imagination I had as a kid was sparked by the brilliant and wondrous world in books. That’s why I feel this book is so important. It not only is a great book to inspire children but teaches them that creativity never stops. Arthur Zarr is lonely in the beginning with no friends, but it’s his spark of humor and appreciation for creativity that begins his wonderful tale of transforming his car. With just a little tweaking to his car, the people of his community gather is a generous and enriching way of their own. Suddenly Arthur Zarr is given the opportunity to bring his community together, and after entering the art car show, can have pride in how many he’s reached.

Nickell gives us lessons that the greatest reward is the one of friendship. That being lonely can be temporary and only needs a little creative motivation to change the way we spend our life. That the smallest act of kindness can turn someones day and even life around. There are so many great lessons in this book and accompanied by the amazing illustrations, I can see it being one that children will want to enjoy over and over.

I’ve been to plenty of car shows with my dad but never an art car show. I was pleasantly surprised to read in the history section of this book that there is a show in Houston I can attend! It goes to show that this book not only displays how a community can come together but also can be bring me closer to my own.

I really don’t think there’s a single person to leave out in my recommendation for reading this. Great for children, inspirational to adult, and especially fun to enjoy for the kid in all of us. Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car is a beautifully illustrated journey that I believe anyone can appreciate.

Buy Links

AMAZON AUTOGRAPHED COPIES

ALSO AVAILABLE AT THESE BRICKS & MORTAR STORES:

BEER CAN HOUSE, 222 Malone St., Houston, Texas (weekends only).

BERINGS Baby and Kids Dept., 3900 Bissonnet St. and 6102 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas.

BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOKSTORE, 224 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, Colorado.

BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP, 14532 Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas.

BRAZOS BOOKSTORE, 2421 Bissonnet St., Houston, Texas.

CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston, Texas.

THE JUNG CENTER BOOKSTORE, 5200 Montrose Blvd., Houston, Texas.

TOY FAIR at Pierremont Mall, 4801 Line Ave., Shreveport, Louisiana.

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Cathey Graham Nickell is an author, mother, and wife living in Houston, Texas. She is best known as the seeing-eye-person for her little blind dog named Cricket. Cathey launched her first children’s picture book, Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car, in November 2015. She doesn’t drive an art car herself, but she has a habit of covering the back of her SUV with bumper stickers! Cathey also snaps pictures of art cars—which are plentiful in Houston—when she sees them. Her all-time favorite car was the bright- yellow Volkswagen Beetle that her grandmother drove in the 1970s. Cathey draws from her experience as a former newspaper reporter and public relations professional. After taking a few years off to raise four children, Cathey started freelance writing again in 2012 when a non-profit organization called the Institute for Spirituality and Health hired her to research and write its six-decade history. Uniting Faith, Medicine and Healthcare: A 60-Year History of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center was published in 2015. The book is used as a marketing and communications tool, and all financial proceeds benefit the

Institute (not Cathey). Cathey graduated from Baylor University with a BA in Journalism in 1985. She earned a Master of Arts from Louisiana State University-Shreveport in 2013.

Find her online where she blogs about her writing and publishing adventures.

WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER

INSTAGRAM GOODREADS PINTEREST

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

GIVEAWAY!! Three winners will each win

$20 CASH & an Author and Illustrator

Signed Copy of the Book!

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Between Hurt and Healing Review

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BETWEEN HURT AND HEALING

by Jackie Melvin

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Tate Publishing

Date of Publication: February 2, 2016

# of pages: 424

Scroll down for Giveaway!

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Introverted Denise Staukhill just wanted a quiet life. She never dreamed she would find a man like Darren Olsen to share it with. An unexpected tragedy ends their fairy-tale romance, and Denise once again finds herself alone and devastated.

Years later, the handsome head football coach from the local high school and Darren’s best friend, Eric Ortellio, tried desperately to help her find peace. As their relationship starts to grow, the manipulative Coach Nick Nelson, trying to protect his secretive past, steps in to ruin both of them.

Will Denise and Eric’s friendship sustain the lies and manipulation that the evil Nelson weaved? Can Denise find the strength to let go of Darren and hold on to Eric, or will her faithfulness to Darren keep Eric out of her life forever?

Visit the author’s WEBSITE for best pricing

or purchase from:

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Denise talking to her twelve-year-old daughter Cissy, about her own mother:

“She loved color in her drawings, bright colors: greens, reds, blues, yellows. All her pictures were happy. She told me when I was your age to take whatever makes you sad and color it in. I guess she just meant that colors are happy and sad is black and white.”

Cissy’s response:

“Maybe that’s what Grandma meant when she said, “color it in.” Celebrations are colorful like birthday balloons and wedding cakes. Funerals are black, and hospitals are white. Funerals are always sad and hospitals can be sad sometimes too. So if you find what makes you sad and color it in, you can be happy.”

My Review:

This book really surprised me with it’s maturity and consistency with life. I really appreciated the level it took to not only display different signs of grief but personality types as well. While it’s a slow and steady journey of a woman struggling with grief, there are moments that really display the little beauties in life that stand out. Like first meetings with people that end up changing our life forever. Or reminiscing great moments in our past to make us smile on a bad day. I really did connect to these parts and appreciated the author including a very real look on family. Denise and her three children go through a life altering event with the death of their husband and father. It’s heartbreaking to think about but also very moving how they each endure and support each other. After moving away and returning a couple years later, Denise reconnects with their old neighbor Eric.

All of these characters are very well developed and easy to read and connect with throughout the book. Though I’ve been known to flinch while reading a few love stories, I really liked the easy flow of the tender moments between the characters. The moments written of Denise and Darren’s relationship, while brief, were really great and I almost forgot for a moment that he passes away. It was really nice how consistent Melvin was in keeping Darren’s memory alive while introducing the new love interest in Eric. The author did a great job of writing the subtle differences of each characters unique personality and sense of humor. Especially the younger kids still figuring out who they were.

This book was great read about closures and new beginnings as well as some surprising plot twists and even more struggles along the way. It’s definitely one of the more slower reads than I am used to but was just so real and refreshing. I would certainly recommend this very meaningful and heartfelt book for readers wanting a romantic and mature read.

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Jackie is a hopeless introvert: hasn’t seen the inside of a movie theater in a decade. She is despairingly sappy: will cry at commercials, songs and memories. She is a disheartened housekeeper: good before the kids, great with the kids, now the laundry room doubles as the master closet. An unexceptional athlete, the weather matters! A wanna be nutritionist, if only chocolate had nutritional value. A mediocre musician: been playing the same songs for thirty years.

A happy wife, she married up. A reluctant empty- nester, miss those kids so much. And she is a writer: the author of a series of children’s books, and Between Hurt and Healing is her first novel.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas with her husband, her dog, and her cat, and spends as much time as possible visiting those kids.

WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM LINKED IN

GIVEAWAY! One winner gets signed copies of Between Hurt and Healing and all of Jackie’s Bartholomew Bear Series

February 22-MARCH 3, 2016

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2/24 The Crazy Booksellers – Promo

2/25 The Page Unbound — Review

2/26 Hall Ways Blog – Author Interview

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2/29 My Book Fix Blog – Promo

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On Lone Star Trail Promo

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On Lone Star Trail

(Texas Crossroads Book 3)

Amanda Cabot

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Revell, a division of Baker Group

Date of Publication: February 2, 2016

# of pages: 368

Synopsis

The Future Starts When You Let Go of the Past

“She wasn’t looking for love at Rainbow’s End,

just a change of scenery and a chance to rest”

Sometimes our past tries desperately to navigate our future. But what if facing our fear and going against our protective impulses is the key to our future? In Amanda Cabot’s final book in her Texas Crossroads series, an unlikely couple discovers that their differences just might be what bring them together.

Gillian Hodge was heading toward a fulfilling life as a concert pianist when her dreams and career were shattered by a motorcyclist. Now she once again faces an encounter with a motorcyclist whose bike crashes in front of her.

TJ Benjamin, who has been wandering around the country on his motorcycle, is recovering from the death of his beloved wife and feeling lost in both his life and his faith. When he finds himself stranded with a busted bike and a reluctant rescuer, he has to wonder about God’s sense of humor.

Can a woman with an uncertain future and a man running to forget his past find love at Rainbow’s End? Or are they too tied to the way life used to be? These vivid characters develop and grow while readers enjoy the beautiful Texas setting.

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abouthteauthor

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Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, Christmas Roses, At Bluebonnet Lake, and In Firefly Valley. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers’ Best Awards. She lives in Wyoming.

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2/15 Hall Ways Blog – Promo

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2/18 Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books – Promo

2/19 The Page Unbound – Promo

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2/21 It’s a Jenn World – Review

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Mourner’s Bench Promo

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MOURNER’S BENCH
by Sanderia Faye
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: University of Arkansas Press
Date of Publication: September 15, 2015
# of pages: 340

Praise for Mourner’s Bench:

“An absorbing meditation on the meaning of religion in a small town as well as a keen-eyed perspective on the way one African-American community encountered the civil rights movement. An astute coming-of-age tale set against an all-too-relevant background.”

— Kirkus Synopsis
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With THIS Ring: Mary Connealy Author Interview and Giveaway

Posted on February 9, 2016 by The Page Unbound

With THIS Ring?
A Novella Collection of Proposals Gone Awry
by
Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy,
Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears
Genre: Romance, Humor
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Date of Publication: January 5, 2016
# of pages: 368

Synopsis

Sometimes Love is Found in the Most Unexpected Places!

Love isn’t always a fairy tale, and it doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes the best stories, though, are the ones that are the most unexpected. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that celebrate the power of love to triumph . . . even when circumstances go awry!

The Husband Maneuver
When ranch foreman Daniel Barrett seems ready to leave her life forever, Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins on their relationship. But to have any hope of maneuvering him into a proposal, she has to act fast or risk losing him completely.

Her Dearly Unintended
Josiah Huckabee just wanted to make sure Katie Ellen Watson was safe, but when the only bridge to her farm is washed out, the two find themselves alone. Alone, that is, until a menacing stranger appears. Maybe by pretending to be newlyweds, they’ll save their reputations–but can pretending to be in love turn into the real thing?

Runaway Bride
Hired to help Carrie Halsey escape from a dangerous man intent on making her his wife, Big John Conroy never expected the job to interrupt his solitary Texas Ranger life. But now that he’s promised to keep Carrie safe, he discovers he may just want to make a few more promises.

Engaging the Competition
Harrison Gray and tomboy Charlotte Andrews have been rivals for years. With Charlotte intended for someone else, it seems they’ll never settle their differences until an accident changes things completely. When Charlotte breaks Harrison’s glasses–without which he’s nearly blind–she must help with his teaching position, and working together forces these former adversaries to reconsider everything.

“This quartet of authors consistently write with hilarity, warmth and toe-curling romance. Their individual contributions to this entertaining collection hold true to form. Connealy tips her hat to long-time fans with a grin-inducing reunion and clever word-smithing. Witemeyer’s ingenious story-within-a story adds even more humor and drama to her contribution. Jennings and Jagears perfectly complete the ensemble with witty tales of friendship and breathless kisses.”–RT Book Reviews Top Pick

PRAISE FOR WITH THIS RING:

“This quartet of authors consistently write with hilarity, warmth, and toe-curling romance. Their individual contributions to this entertaining collection hold true to form. Connealy tips her hat to long-time fans with a grin-inducing reunion and clever word-smithing. Witemeyer’s ingenious story-within-a story adds even more humor and drama to her contribution. Jennings and Jagears perfectly complete the ensemble with witty tales of friendship and breathless kisses.”—RT Book Reviews Top Pick

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Author Interview: Mary Connealy

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?

I don’t think I really picked this genre, I think, because of my rural background and husband who’s a cowboy, the genre sort of picked me. I wrote widely before I got my first book published and the cowboy romantic comedies are what hit. I like to think it’s because I can bring some real authenticity to it because of the life I live and my strange ability to be sassy (at least while typing). That all comes through in just the right way.

Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?

I’ve always loved to read, from a very young age my mom was always taking us to the library. My parents were big readers, too. But writing, a perfect storm of factors led me to start writing, including my baby going to kindergarten (some free time!), getting our first computer and having a friend write a book and, when I expressed, my admiration, she challenged me to write one, too. But whatever STARTED me writing, the fact was that, once I started, I just loved it. It was the most fun I’d ever had—and it still is.

How long have you been writing?

Almost exactly twenty years now. My ‘baby’ is going to be 26 soon. I started when she went to kindergarten in…counting on my fingers….must now remove my socks…I’d say September 1995. I wrote for ten years before I got my first book published and I had TWENTY finished books on my computer when I got my first contract. I got my first contract in…I’d say, September 2005. And my 50^th book will release this year in July 2015. It’s a great ride!

Who are some of your favorite authors you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?

I’d say the author most influential to me is Louis L’Amour. He writes the best cowboys EVER. And I’m strongly influenced in my work by his attitudes toward the frontier. I also love his knowledge of the west. In fact, if in my research I find some fact that disagrees with Louis…I go with Louis nearly every time—that’s mainly because most everyone will believe I’m wrong if I don’t match up to him. I’ve actually talked with Louis L’Amour’s son Beau a few times and hosted him on my blog Petticoats and Pistols.

What literary character is most like you?

This took some thinking. I came up with Melanie in Gone with the Wind. I really am a quiet person who spends most of her time alone, when not caring for my family. My characters I write are NOT me, all those feisty lady ranchers. I think they’re how I WISH I could be. Strong, take Charge, In-Your-Face type women. That seems fun, but I suspect in real life, it would get really old to be a person like that, especially for those around you.

If you were a superhero, what would your name be? What costume would you wear?

Introvert Girl. Yoga pants and a sweatshirt with a sky blue cape…so I wouldn’t show up much when I flew around.

abouttheauthors

KarenWitemeyer

Karen Witemeyer: Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three children. Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.

MaryConnealy

Mary Connealy: Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has over half a million books sold. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.

Regina Jennings

Regina Jennings: Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of At Love’s Bidding and four other novels, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. Regina has worked at the Mustang News, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children. Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.

GIVEAWAY! FOUR COPIES OF THE BOOK!

February 5-18, 2016

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2/9 The Page Unbound – Author Interview

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Spirit Warriors: The Burning, Author Interview with D.E.L. Connor

Posted on February 7, 2016 by The Page Unbound

The Burning

Spirit Animals Book 3

by D.E.L. Connor

Genre: YA / Fantasy / Coming of Age

Publisher: Booktrope Publishing

Date of Publication: September 21, 2015

# of pages: 357

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Praise for the books:

“There is something special about a book/series when you feel like you’ve come home to family/friends in the first chapter. That is how I feel when I begin each new book in this series. I find I care more about each character as the series progresses.” – Amazon Reviewer

“I have been a huge fan of this series. After the second book I wasn’t exactly sure how this one would develop. Hands down it is the best book of the series so far.” – Goodreads Reviewer

“The Concealing is one of the best books that I have read in a long time…You will fall head over heels in love with all of the characters and the plot as well in The Concealing.” – The Avid Reader

“I was glued to the book from the moment I began reading it and was sad when it ended, because it ended. I can very easily visualise this book as a film, the descriptions are detailed enough to make it a great opportunity for a film. Amazing.” — Cookie Book Reviews

“A great young adult series along the formulaic values of the “Twilight” series. Also a wonderful book for adults who want to immerse themselves in a world full of youth and American Indian heritage.” — Respect the Books

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Author Interview:

Are there under-represented groups or ideas featured if your book? If so, discuss them. The Spirit Warriors series focuses on the beauty and traditions of the Native American nations. I was born in South Dakota and raised in Montana, where the culture of the Wild West lingers to this day. You can journey in Lewis & Clark’s path, walk in the footsteps of the warriors at The Battle of Little Bighorn, crawl in a tepee, and see artifacts from a world far removed from the one we live in. My hope with this series is to introduce a new generation to a world they never knew existed. Although the books do have a fantasy element to them and the tribe in the books is really a compilation of beliefs of several plains tribes, the magic and wonder of the Native American world gives wings to anyone’s imagination.

What are some day jobs that you have held? If any of them impacted your writing, share an example. I actually have two days jobs. I am a nursing professor and I practice as a family nurse practitioner. Having been a nurse for a number of years nothing is unusual or off limits when it comes to the human body. When I write I forget this until my editor puts a note similar to this in the manuscript, “ICK! No one cares about what came out or went in. Cut the nurse jargon!” I must confess that I now put in the goriest nurse stories just to see what she will say!

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)? I love this question! I don’t stand on my head but I do write and edit my books on my Fitbike. In case you haven’t seen one, it looks like an exercise bike but it has a laptop desk attached to the handlebars. I’m trying to be more active when I am writing otherwise I sit for hours just typing away. It does take some getting use and the seat is hard on your bottom.

What book do you wish you could have written? Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I am a huge fan of his! I have a paperback copy of Lonesome Dove that once belonged to my grandfather and it stays by my bedside. I bet I have read it a thousand times. He is a master storyteller and character builder. One day I hope to meet him. Now that would be a dream come true except I would probably stammer and stutter and embarrass myself!

What is something you want to accomplish before you die? How did you know I had an author bucket list? I want to finish the story of my dad’s life growing up in the Depression on the barren prairies of Montana. I have several other stories that I have started that have nurses as the main characters and I am excited to highlight my beloved profession. And I would love to meet Larry McMurtry! If anyone out there can help me with that, well I would be ecstatic!

If you had a spirit animal what would it be?

I would be an eagle. What I would give to soar in the skies and glide on the wind. I would own the heavens!

Enter to win: a signed copy of

The Concealing, Book 1 of the Spirit Warriors Series,
a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and some Swag!

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Della Connor (D.E.L. Connor) was born in South Dakota and raised in Southeastern Montana where she acquired a keen appreciation for Western and Native American culture. She moved to Texas as a young adult and acquired her honorary Texan status. She became a registered nurse, a nurse practitioner and eventually earned her PhD in nursing. She still works as a nurse educator and as a nurse practitioner. Her nights and weekends, however, are filled with her stories and books. Her first book, Spirit Warriors:The Concealing, was published by Booktrope Publishing in November of 2014. The second book in the series Spirit Warriors: The Scarring published on July 21, 2014 and Spirit Warriors: The Burning rolled out on September 21, 2015.The Spirit Warriors story evolved from a short story she wrote for a college English class in the early 1990s. The professor read it, loved it and asked her to stay after class and discuss it. During this discussion, he told her that a “dark” story like hers, which was written for older children, would be unmarketable and unsaleable. The story kept floating around in her mind. Finally, J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyers and others stepped forward with amazing “dark” stories to create a new genre called Young Adult. The time was finally right for her book. She wrote book 1 in two weeks. It took another year and a half and about a 150 queries all with a “not interested” for her to find a publisher.

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1/31 Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books – Promo

2/1 My Book Fix Blog – Promo

2/2 All for the Love of the Word – Guest Post

2/3 A Novel Reality – Promo

2/4 Missus Gonzo – Review

2/5 Books and Broomsticks – Promo

2/6 bookishjessp – Review

2/7 The Page Unbound – Author Interview

2/8 Because This is My Life Y’all – Review

2/9 Texas Book-aholic – Promo

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Desperate for Death Promo

Posted on February 1, 2016 by The Page Unbound

Desperate for Death
A Kelly O’Connell Mystery
by Judy Alter
Genre: Cozy Mystery / Suspense
Publisher: Alter Ego Press
Date of Publication: January 9, 2016
# of pages: 228

Synopsis

Just when Kelly’s life has calmed, she faces yet another of life’s puzzles. Except the pieces in this one don’t fit. First the apartment behind her house is torched, then a string of bizarre “accidents” occur to set her off-balance. Who is stalking her? Where does the disappearance of a young girl and her disreputable boyfriend fit in? And why are two men using the same name? Is the surprise inheritance another part of the puzzle? At a time when she is most vulnerable, Kelly can’t make the pieces fit. Before Kelly can get the whole picture, she helps the family of a hostage, rescues a kidnap victim and attends a wild and wonderful wedding.

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Praise for Desperate for Death

Once again, Kelly is thrust into action when her family and friends are targeted by a deranged convict and this time Kelly has more to protect. I enjoyed this fast-paced and well written drama that continues to get better and better with a strong and determined heroine and a secondary cast that plays a pivotal role in the telling of this tale. It was fun watching this mystery played out with all the key elements that lead to a fulfilling finale and I especially enjoyed Keisha presence in this book. This is by far the best book in this series and I hope there are more to come in this engaging series.—Dru Ann L Love

One satisfying aspect of Desperate for Death which sets it apart from other murder mysteries is its staccato action in which everything happens at once, little seems connected, and life becomes a series of challenges. Fast-paced action keeps readers involved in not only events, but Kelly’s response to them, and in her efforts to keep her head above stormy waters.—Diane Donovan, Senior E-book Review Editor, Midwest Book Review

Judy Alter’s books just keep getting better. Her characters have real growth and the plots get harder to figure out. This one is her best of this genre….David Hartley Burlingame

2f7b7b89-1cfa-43c6-a6e7-e98ae4c455c7

What kind of writing do you do?

Over the years I’ve written fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers. For years, my main focus was on the experiences of women in the 19^th-Century West, and I wrote everything from a small “pick-up” book called Extraordinary Women of Texas to longish fictional biographies of such women as Elizabeth Bacon Custer, Jessie Benton Frémont, Wild West Cowgirl Lucille Mulhall, and Etta Place of the Hole in the Wall gang. They are now available online.

When that market dried up or my publisher gave up on me, I began to do work-for hire for companies that published for school libraries. I’ve written state histories, presidential biographies, books on passenger ships, the Santa Fe Trail, mapping the West, vaccines, and on down a long and varied list of topics I never would have investigated on my own.

Now I write cozy mysteries—more about that below—but this spring I will have another historical novel, The Gilded Cage. Set in Chicago (my hometown) it covers the city’s history from the 1840s through the Columbian exposition and focuses on Potter Palmer (of hotel fame) and his wife, Cissie, a noted philanthropist and a fascinating women.

Why did I choose to write in a particular field or genre?

This girl from the Midwest never expected to find herself in Texas, let alone graduate school. But there I was, working on a Ph.D. in English at Texas Christian University. I was fascinated by the literature and art of the American West. My then-husband fancied himself a sculptor, and we studied the work of Remington and Russell at the nearby (and free) Amon Carter Museum. In classes I read works by Elmer Kelton, Benjamin Capps, Wallace Stegner and others. The western was my field, although I never thought I could write fiction. When I first tried my hand at it the novel, After Pa Was Shot, was set in Texas. It sold as young-adult fiction.

My turns to mysteries in the last ten years came about because I’ve been a lifelong fan of mysteries. Finally I said to myself, if so many others can write in this genre, surely I can too. Today I have ten mysteries either in print or about to be reissued.

What I read in my spare time

Mysteries, of course, and a few women’s titles. I just finished Foreign Eclairs by Julie Hyzy, a wonderful tension-filled book with characters you’d love to know. I’m sad it’s the last of the White House Chef Series. On the other hand, I was privileged to read the unpublished version of Loving Eleanor by Susan Wittig Albert, exploring the personal life of Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok. The book will launch in February. I don’t read much belles lettres or nonfiction though an occasional title will hold my attention. I figure reading mysteries is part of improving my craft.

Projects I am currently working on

Getting ready to launch The Gilded Cage, mentioned above. I also have to format Skeleton in a Dead Space for inclusion in a boxed set of first-in-the-series books. Skeleton is the first in my Kelly O’Connell Mysteries; Desperate for Death is the sixth. And then there’s a half-written sequel to The Perfect Coed—it’s untitled so far but deals with the issue of open-carry. Hope I get it finished while it’s still timely in Texas. And I want to make digital versions of my other mysteries available—they disappeared when Turquoise Morning Press closed, and I am slowly republishing under my own Alter Ego Publishing imprint.

The book I wish I’d written

Wallace Stegner’s Angle of Repose

Speaking with an accent

If I could speak with any accent, it would be Scottish. In spite of my devotion to things western and Texan, my heart is in the Highlands, home of my MacBain Clan ancestors.

abouthteauthor

An award-winning novelist, Judy Alter is the author of six books in the Kelly O’Connell Mysteries series: Skeleton in a Dead Space, No Neighborhood for Old Women, Trouble in a Big Box, Danger Comes Home, Deception in Strange Places, and Desperate for Death. She also writes the Blue Plate Café Mysteries—Murder at the Blue Plate Café, Murder at the Tremont House and Murder at Peacock Mansion. Finally, with the 2014 The Perfect Coed, she introduced the Oak Grove Mysteries.

Her work has been recognized with awards from the Western Writers of America, the Texas Museum and Hall of Fame. She has been honored with the Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Achievement by WWA and inducted into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. Judy is retired as director of TCU Press and the mother of four grown children and the grandmother of seven. She and her dog, Sophie, live in Fort Worth, Texas.

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1/28 The Crazy Booksellers — Promo

1/29 Because This is My Life Y’all — Review

1/30 All for the Love of the Word — Guest Post

1/31 My Book Fix Blog — Review

2/1 The Page Unbound — Promo

2/2 Hall Ways — Review

2/3 bookishjessp — Guest Post

2/4 Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books — Promo

2/5 Texas Book-aholic — Review

2/6 Books and Broomsticks — Author Interview

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Copper Lake Promo

Posted on January 30, 2016 by The Page Unbound

Lone Star Literary Life Blog Tours

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COPPER LAKE

Book Three in the Stutter Creek Series

Ann Swann

They call him the Killer Cartographer because he carves the map coordinates of each victim on the femur of the one before. Then he tattoos the information on his skin. Can detective Kendra Dean bring him in or will she become his next tattoo?

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Ann Swann was born in the small West Texas town of Lamesa. She grew up much like Stevie-girl in The Phantom Pilot series, though she never got up the nerve to enter the haunted house. Ann has done everything from answering 911 Emergency calls to teaching elementary school. She lives in Texas with her husband, Dude, one rescue dog, two rescue cats, and a part-time box turtle named Piggy. When she’s not writing, Ann is reading. Her to-be-read list has grown so large it has taken on a life of its own. She calls it Herman.

Books by Ann Swann

2011 Stevie-girl and The Phantom Pilot – Cool Well Press

2012 Stevie-girl and The Phantom Student – Cool Well Press

2013 Stevie-girl and the Phantom of Crybaby Bridge – Createspace

2012 All For Love – 5 Prince Publishing

2013 Stutter Creek (Book One) – 5 Prince Publishing

2015 Lilac Lane (Book Two) – 5 Prince Publishing

2016 Copper Lake (Book Three) – 5 Prince Publishing

2016 Takers: Apocalypse in Eden – coming soon

Short Fiction

“Bamboozled” Alfred Hitchcock Magazine

“Aftermath” Binnacle Magazine

“The Gap” and “In Search of Water” The Rusty Nail (previously published in The Sandstorm)

“Soul Gardener” Timeless: Cool Well Press, Anthology

“The Fee” A World of Terror: Grey Mouse Publishing, (formerly titled The Warning)

“SleepAway Pounds” Seasonal, Sweet, and Suspenseful, Anthology

“Chems” Createspace

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Check out all the great blog stops on the tour!

1/28 Books and Broomsticks — Author Interview

1/29 bookishjessp — Promo

1/30 The Page Unbound — Promo

1/31 Missus Gonzo — Review

2/1 All for the Love of the Word – Author Interview

2/2 My Book Fix Blog — Review

2/3 Hall Ways — Promo

2/4 Because This is My Life Y’all — Review

2/5 The Crazy Booksellers — Promo

2/6 Texas Book-aholic — Review

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Pennies from Burger Heaven: Interview and Giveaway

Posted on January 20, 2016 by The Page Unbound

Pennies from Burger Heaven

by Marcy McKay

Genre: Literary Suspense

Publisher: SkipJack Publishing

Date of Publication: December 28, 2015

# of pages: 340

Eleven-year-old Copper Daniels is homeless and alone. She spends her nights sleeping beneath the cemetery’s Warrior Angel statue for protection, and her days battling the mean streets of Remington, Texas, hell-bent on discovering what happened the night her Mama disappeared. While Copper and her rag-tag group of friends find danger at every corner, two horrors are certain: her Mama’s really missing and someone’s after Copper, too.

In the tradition of The Lovely Bones and Room, Pennies from Burger Heaven tells a dark story through the eyes of a child. With wit and wisdom, Copper Daniels will steal your heart, then break it in two.

Awards for Pennies from Burger Heaven:

*Winner – Writers’ League of Texas: Best Mainstream Novel

*Winner – Frontiers in Writing: Best Mainstream Novel

*Winner – Frontiers in Writing: Best of Show

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Praise for Pennies from Burger Heaven

“Against the gritty backdrop of an inner-city ghetto rises the unforgettable voice of eleven-year-old Copper ‘Penny’ Daniels, offering poignant and heartbreaking insights into the horrors and trials of homeless life on the streets, finding heaven where you least expect it, and help in those you never thought to ask.”

– A.G. Howard, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Splintered Series

“At once disturbing and exhilarating, heartbreaking and heartwarming, Pennies is the story of an undying love between a mother and daughter. It grabs you by the heartstrings from the start and won’t let you go, even after you’ve read the last word.”

– Ken Oder, author of The Closing and Old Wounds to the Heart

“Debut novelist McKay infuses Pennies from Burger Heaven with wit, charm and moxie, so much so that the achingly beautifulness of Copper Daniels’ life sneaks up on you. All of this wrapped around a mystery that is fast-paced and rife with tension, with a satisfying series of twists. Can’t wait for the next Burger Heaven novel.”

– Pamela Fagan Hutchins, author of the Katie & Annalise mystery series

What inspired you to writePennies from Burger Heaven?

I was driving out to Llano Cemetery here in my hometown of Amarillo, Texas. As I drove through the front gates, a young girl’s voice whispered in my ear. That’s the day I met Copper Daniels and my life hasn’t been the same since.

What’s the hardest thing about writing novels?

You know, writing them.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Hang out with my family. My husband and I have two high-schoolers, so the clock is ticking before they leave for college. We’re enjoying every second with them. Also: reading (of course!), watching movies, yoga, long walks through my neighborhood, meeting friends for coffee.

Can you share anything about your current work-in-progress?

Burger Heaven #2 (Real title TBA) – It’s six months later for young Copper Daniels, and life isn’t going well. A new mystery calls her back to Eternal Peace Cemetery. Heaven and hell collide as she fights the battle of her life.

Do you prefer books or movies?

I love both, but at the end of the day, I’d rather read a book. I want to let my imagination see the stories in my own way.

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3 WINNERS WILL WIN THEIR CHOICE OF AN eBOOK OR PRINT COPY OF PENNIES FROM BURGER HEAVEN.

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Carrying the Black Bag Promo

Posted on January 11, 2016 by The Page Unbound

Carrying the Black Bag: A Neurologist’s Bedside Tales

Author: Tom Hutton MD

Genre: memoir

Publisher: Texas Tech University Press

Date of Publication: December 7, 2015

# of pages: 240

In his thirty-plus years of practicing medicine, physician and neurologist Tom Hutton discovered that a doctor’s best teachers are often his patients. From these extraordinary individuals, Hutton gained a whole-hearted respect for the resourcefulness, courage, and resilience of the human spirit. Hutton’s patients—and the valuable lessons they taught—served as the inspiration for Carrying the Black Bag.

Carrying the Black Bag invites readers to experience what it’s like to be a doctor’s hands, eyes, and heart. Imagine the joy of witnessing a critically ill five-year-old who, against all odds, claws her way back from a coma and near certain death. Meet a lonely Texas widower with Parkinson’s disease who hosts elaborate pinochle parties for a pack of imaginary canines. Step into the surgical booties of the author when he attempts to deliver his own child amid heart-stopping obstetrical complications—during a paralyzing Minnesota blizzard.

Through real-life patient narratives, Hutton shines light on ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Moreover, this captivating tale captures the drama of medicine—its mystery, pathos, heroism, sacrifice, and humor.

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PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

Each story slipped into The Black Bag is a shining jewel, polished to perfection and written with empathy, sensitivity and humor. Hutton brings to life a doctor’s unflagging dedication to the human condition as a healer with utmost respect for each patient fortunate enough to be graced by his compassion and commitment. Every tale once begun, entrances.

-Antoinette van Heughten, author of USA Bestseller Saving Max, and The Tulip Eaters

Being a physician is a privilege, in no small part because of the powerful insight it provides into the human condition. Tom Hutton addresses themes of interest to all readers–love, loyalty, family, and mortality, and shows how he could affect a positive outcome, and how he, in turn, was changed by those for whom he cared.

-William L. Henrich, MD, President, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

How many doctors have you come across who can write this well, especially for the lay reader? He’s a natural, that’s for sure! Carrying The Black Bag is a must-read for anyone interested in following a wonderful doctor on his rounds.

-Bartee Haile, newspaper columnist and author of Texas Depression-Era Desperadoes, and Murders Most Texan

A wonderful journey through the training, practice, triumphs, and travails of a dedicated physician.

-D. P. Lyle, MD, author of Dub Walker and Samantha Cody thriller series.

Chapter 9

AT THE FURROW’S END

Heavy double doors banged behind me. I located the unidentified woman responsible for my stat page. A glance revealed a small body eclipsed by monitors, a wheezing ventilator, and a virtual spaghetti bowl of wires and catheters.

Somewhere across the intensive care unit, a ventilator alarm shrieked, a telephone jingled, and infusion pumps thrummed. Nurses with intent facial expressions scurried about the unit on rubber-soled shoes, providing care for these, the very sickest of the hospital’s sick.

(Her husband arrives and provides a surprisingly poignant description, transforming his wife in my eyes)

“Doc, do everything you can.” His voice cracked and faltered before struggling on. He finally blurted out, “I…I love that old gal.”

After his description I no longer could think of Maggie Croft as a shriveled old woman with failing physiology. She had become an energetic harvester who had struggled through desperate decades tightly bonded to her husband. She had evoked the strongest display of public emotion of which I felt Ned Croft capable.

And struggle to save her life we did. We addressed her brain swelling to eke out precious millimeters of space within her skull to buy time for the blood clot to recede. We tried every management strategy to salvage the life of Maggie Croft—but in the end our efforts came to naught.

I recall Ned’s slow pace as he departed the intensive care unit. He pushed at the swinging doors, opening them a crack. Ned glanced back at his deceased wife’s body, his eyes vacant. Ned Croft with his tattered appearance and pained emotions was abruptly lost from view as the doors slammed shut behind him. The complexity of love has baffled the wisest sages. But for me, Ned’s simple utterance said it best. “Doc, I love that old gal.”

Excerpt from Carrying the Black Bag: A Neurologist’s Bedside Tales (Texas Tech University Press) by Tom Hutton, MD

Tom Hutton, M. D., is an internationally-recognized clinical and research neurologist and educator. The past president of the Texas Neurological Society, Dr. Hutton served as professor and vice chairman of the Department of Medical and Surgical Neurology at the Texas Tech School of Medicine. He now lives on his cattle ranch near Fredericksburg, Texas.