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Let's celebrate Jill Piscitello's new release! It looks SO GOOD! Congratulations, Jill!  When murder provides a welcome distraction… On the heels of a public, broken engagement, Maeve Cleary returns to her childhood home in Hampton Beach, NH. When a dead body turns up behind her mother’s music school, three old friends land on the suspect list. Licking her wounds soon takes a back seat to outrunning the paparazzi who spin into a frenzy, casting her in a cloud of suspicion. Maeve juggles her high school sweetheart, a cousin with a touch of clairvoyance, a no-nonsense detective, and an apologetic, two-timing ex-fiancé. Will the negative publicity impact business at the Music Box— the very place she’d hoped to make a fresh start. Excerpt from A Sour Note With his mouth set in a grim line, he waited. If anyone else had enough nerve to presume she owed them an explanation, she would respond with a solid mind your own business. Instead, the seventeen-year-old still inside her refused to tell him to get lost. “He was hiding money in his office.” This was one of those times when learning how to wait a few beats before blurting out inflammatory information would come in handy. Each second of passing silence decreased her ability to breathe in the confined space. She turned the ignition and switched on the air conditioner. “How do you know?” His volume just above a whisper, each dragged-out word hung in the air. “I found it.” “When were you in his office?” He swiped at a bead of sweat trickling down the side of his face, then positioned a vent toward him. “Last night.” When would she learn to bite her tongue? Finn’s switch from rapid-fire scolding to slow, deliberate questioning left her unable to swallow over the sandpaper lump in her throat. “Where was Vic?” She stared at the back of the building, wishing she’d kept her mouth shut. “He’d left for the night.” If she averted her gaze, she could pretend his eyeballs weren’t bugging out of his head, and his jaw didn’t need a crane to haul it off his chest. “You were at the town hall after hours? Did anyone see you?” “A custodian opened his door for me.” She snuck a glance. Sure enough, features contorted in shock and horror replaced his boy-next-door good looks.  About the Author
Jill Piscitello is a teacher, author, and an avid fan of multiple literary genres. Although she divides her reading hours among several books at a time, a lighthearted story offering an escape from the real world can always be found on her nightstand. A native of New England, Jill lives with her family and three well-loved cats. When not planning lessons or reading and writing, she can be found spending time with her family, trying out new restaurants, traveling, and going on light hikes.
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 I hold a special fondness for the Limbourg Brothers' image for July. It's a wonderfully agrarian scene. While the scything always catches this gardener's eye (although far beyond a sweet little flower bed or vegetable patch), it's the sheep shearing that makes me smile. That's because as summer presses on, the desire to do whatever it takes to cool off strikes more often. My personal favorite method for dealing with the heat is to escape to the mountains. After that, the beach or a swimming pool works! And my go-to garment for daily living is a light sundress. How about you? Medieval folk also had their ways of dealing with the heat. They wore lighter clothing in summer, certainly, and they wore hats. They also took to the water, which regularly resulted in drownings as swimming wasn't a commonly-acquired skill. And, of course, the nobility had the luxury of escaping to their presumably cooler, country homes. As for the summer solstice, which this year is today, June 21, it always surprises me that it's the longest day of the year. The days in July and earlier August always seem much longer to me. I suppose it's because we are well-settled into summer by then, necessarily concentrating our outdoor time towards evenings and giving in (to the heat) to enjoy the different cadence of life. To many a medieval observer, the summer solstice was a day of celebration that held a touch of melancholy. It signaled the turn, slow as it was, to shorter, darker days. It seems a bit pessimistic, doesn't it? But at least they appreciated their long, summer days. This summer is a markedly different one for me. I will be more or less on hiatus as I've some healing and physical therapy to get through. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be, but it's all good. When I catch my breath, I will work on finishing All Shook Up, the sequel to Tremors Through Time. That being said, I do still have a few wonderful guests scheduled -- just a couple, really, and I'm bound to post now and then. I've been blogging for many, many years, so it will be an unusual and challenging experience not to. I will miss you! Do continue to check in with medieval ladies Mary Morgan and Barbara Bettis. I don't know that they'll be posting every week, but their posts and websites, as you probably know, are wonderful. In addition, I hope you will enjoy reading some wonderful,medieval romances under the shade of an umbrella as you soak up the season. Wishing you bright, happy days ahead! Happy Summer!   I'm proud to welcome author Rosemary Kubli, whose spectacular romantic suspense Gullible launches this very day. I'm in the middle of reading it -- WOW! The characters leap off the pages! SO GOOD! We will learn more about Gullible, but first let's get to know Rosemary a bit better. By the way, it is Rosemary who chose a lovely green for her responses to my questions. I believe it is indicative of the lady herself. :) Welcome, Rosemary, and congratulations! Thank you for having me as your guest, Anastasia! I’m honored to appear on your blog. 1)What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? Wow! You’re making me reach far back into my memory bank! I can’t say I had a favorite book series, but my mother subscribed to the Reader’s Digest, and I always looked forward to reading the periodical’s short stories. I’d also read the novels Mom ordered through her monthly book club subscription. Now that I think about it, I was probably the only student in my middle school who was reading John le Carre and Mario Puzo! 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? My favorite stories involve mystery and suspense – murder/crime, cozy mysteries, legal/psychological thrillers. But thanks to the wonderful ladies in my book club, I’m reading fiction and non-fiction books that I would never have selected on my own. Good writing, I’ve come to realize, will hook me on a book more so than the genre. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? I think I wanted to write the moment I finished reading my first book. I wasn’t satisfied to just lose myself in a story invented by someone else’s imagination. I wanted to create my own narrative, to breathe life into my own characters and build a world for them to live in, to tell their story. 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? A science fiction short story that I wrote when I was about 12 years old, probably inspired by my addiction to the original Star Trek TV series. My older sister was in high school at the time and much more interested in her social life than her academics. She’d been assigned to write a short story for her English class and I jumped at the chance to write it for her. So, while she was out partying with her friends, I was at home sharpening my No. 2 pencil. I wish I could remember what grade the teacher gave her on that assignment. Aww, what a great story! 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? I think we’re all born with a creative force whether it’s to paint, act, dance, sing, design, etc. Mine is to write stories. When I observe a situation – say a couple engaged in intimate conversation at a restaurant – my mind automatically creates a narrative in which they are the main characters. Who are they and what brought them there? A blind date? Siblings discussing an elderly parent’s healthcare needs? Lovers plotting to murder their spouses? You never know when you’ll come across the inspiration for your next novel. 6) What’s your writing space like? I honestly don’t have one specific place where I write. Depending on my mood, I’ll carry my laptop to my dining room table, or the kitchen island, or my sunroom. On a warm day, I’ll sit outside on the patio. Sometimes I like to get away, so I’ll grab a table in the back corner of our local coffee shop. I know it’s erratic, but so far, these changes in scenery have worked for me. 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I’m a morning person, so I try to take advantage of the hours before lunchtime when my brain is fresh. On days that I have a morning appointment or other commitment, I try to devote a few hours in the afternoon to writing. There are some days, however, when I can’t set aside any time to write, and then I get really frustrated. There’s so much I want to accomplish and even one day missed is time I can’t afford to lose. Habits or rituals? To get in the writing groove, I read the passage I most recently committed to the page and that usually gets me into the proper mindset. 8) Time to talk about your new release (rubbing hands together)! But first, how did you come up with the idea for the series? Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? Who doesn’t like a good story about false identities and grand larceny? Think Catch Me If You Can, The Sting, Charade, Sneaky Pete, Lupin. Crafty con artists and suspenseful plot twists rarely disappoint! The heroine in my novel, Gullible, is a con artist extraordinaire whose overconfidence in her abilities blinds her to the possibility that she may have become the gullible victim of her own scheme. Oh – did I mention how those irresistible dimples on the handsome, debonair man she’s conning are a major distraction? But honestly, that wasn’t my original concept for the story. Gullible wasn’t even the original title! Like many authors, as the plot evolved, other ideas kept popping into my head and, two years after I started the manuscript, I ended up with a story that is much more interesting than the one I initially set out to write. One tidbit I’d like to share is that the Singing Bird Pistols, which play an integral part in the con my main character runs in Gullible, are based on an actual pair of extremely rare and valuable antique trinkets. I recommend watching the 4-minute YouTube video about the genuine artifacts. It’s fascinating, and will definitely enhance the reader’s enjoyment of the story! It's riveting!  9) Now let’s hear about – How grateful I am to The Wild Rose Press for seeing my potential. Most authors will tell you that it took a lot of passion and persistence to land their first contract, and I’m no different. Just when I was about to throw in the towel, my wonderful editor at TWRP responded positively to my query and renewed my belief in my ability and the work I’d created. I will forever be grateful to her! 10) I comprehend that you’ve just published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? As a matter of fact, I do! I became so invested in the characters I created for Gullible that I decided to expand their story. I’m currently working on a sequel titled Vengeful in which my heroine, Siena Ricci, is just getting her life back on track when an impulsive act of vengeance she committed several years earlier comes back to haunt her. Rounding out the trilogy, Reckless will have Siena’s hot-headedness getting her into the most dangerous, nail-biting situation she’s ever faced. Yaaay! This is great news! 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Well…On a personal note, my husband of 45 years and I live in a small town in northeast Ohio. We have two wonderful sons who (sad face) live miles away from us – one in Wisconsin, the other in California – but that just gives us an excuse to travel out their way for visits! In addition to traveling on land, my husband and I are seasoned cruisers, and will soon complete our 21st ocean cruise. Professionally, I’ve worn many hats from HR and training to payroll and banking. I’m proud to say that, after retiring from the corporate world, I’m fortunate to have begun my favorite career to date – writing!  Once again, congratulations on your book launch, Rosemary! Wishing you all the best! Thank you, Anastasia!! The same to you! And thanks again for having me as a guest on your blog!  Siena Ricci is shrewd, seductive, and an expert in the art of deception. Masking her identity behind the guise of Marie Lacroix, a specialist in antiques and objets d'art, she swindles her employer's wealthy clients out of their valuable possessions. She hasn't yet met the man she can't manipulate, but then the con she's playing on Jonathan Woodward has only just begun. Jonathan proves to be an easy mark, but he's also enticingly irresistible. As their relationship heats up, her plot to steal his multi-million-dollar antique trinkets begins to unravel. Noticing a subtle change in Jonathan's demeanor, Marie questions whether she's still in control of the con or if she's blindly become the gullible victim of her own scheme. Excerpt Marie stared at Jonathan Woodward’s number on her cell phone, hesitant to make the call. She and Jonathan hadn’t spoken with each other in nearly a year, and she worried their rapport, which she’d worked so hard to nurture, might not have withstood the test of time. She berated herself for not considering this possibility before agreeing to Gus’s Somerset Necklace scheme. Well, there’s only one way to find out if Jonathan is still under my spell. She took a deep breath, touched the screen, and listened as the call rang once…twice… “Marie! What a welcome surprise!” Jonathan sounded happy to hear from her, an encouraging sign. “Hello, Jonathan,” she said in her sultry voice, the one that usually hooked her unwitting target within seconds. “Am I catching you at a bad time?” “No, not at all,” he replied, his tone soft and intimate. She’d successfully set the mood. “We haven’t been in touch for a while. How are you?” “I’m well, thank you. I wanted to call you before now, but I hated to intrude on your privacy.” “I appreciate your consideration. My family has had a rough year, but I think we’re finally on the mend.” Marie understood loss. The sadness in Jonathan’s voice elicited memories and emotions she preferred to keep buried. When she responded, her empathy was sincere. “It takes a while to recover from such a tragedy.” “Yes, longer than we imagine, unfortunately.” Jonathan sighed heavily. “So, what prompted this call? Is something interesting going on the auction block?” Marie giggled coyly. “Oh, I’m sure I can always find some little trinket for you to add to your collection. But this isn’t a work-related call. I just made plans to spend this weekend in Boston. You live near there, don’t you?” “Yes, in Burgess, just west of the city. Why are you traveling up this way?” To keep things casual, so she didn’t appear to be aggressively pursuing him, Marie fed Jonathan a tall tale about a weekend reunion. “A couple of friends from college invited me to join them for a girls’ getaway. I’ll be in Boston Friday night through Sunday afternoon.” Dead silence. Then, “That’s nice. It’s always fun to get together with old friends.” The disappointment in Jonathan’s voice came across loud and clear. He’d probably assumed Marie was traveling to Boston to meet him in person as they’d discussed the last time they spoke, then realized she was instead calling to ask for recommendations on restaurants and sightseeing venues. “Yes, I’ll be happy to see them. It’s been a long time since we were last together.” “Well, if you need my input about places to go or things to do, don’t hesitate to call.” Okay, time to get to the point. “Thank you for the offer. But Jonathan…gosh, I hope I’m not being too forward.” She paused to give the impression she was worried he’d reject her suggestion. “I was hoping we could get together while I’m in town.” Again, silence. Uh-oh. Had she misread the playful insinuations he’d made during their previous phone conversations? Or perhaps, in the months since they’d last spoken, he’d become involved with someone and was no longer interested in pursuing a relationship with her. At last, he said, “I’ll need to rearrange my schedule. How’s Saturday, mid-afternoon?” Relieved, she breathed easily again. “Saturday afternoon works for me, but I don’t want to interfere with your commitments. Perhaps I could make a trip to Boston another time.” “No, no,” he said hastily. “We’ve waited long enough to meet as it is. Text me the name and address of your hotel. I’ll find a café close by where we can spend the afternoon getting better acquainted.” “That sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to meet you.” “Same here. I’m afraid I need to go for now, but I’ll call you Saturday morning to finalize the details. Take care, Marie.” Marie grinned with satisfaction as she strolled over to her closet to select her wardrobe for the upcoming weekend. Her plan was moving along perfectly. As a matter of fact, Jonathan was playing right into her hands.  About the Author Rosemary Kubli writes the type of books she loves to read - intrigue and suspense mixed with a pinch of romance and a clever plot twist or two. Her professional experiences run the gamut from Human Resources and training to accounting and banking, with publishing being her most recent endeavor. Aside from the seven years she lived in southern California, she has always called the northeast corner of Ohio her home. Rosemary and her husband of 45 years enjoy traveling - on land to visit family and friends and on sea to any destination a cruise ship will take them. When not working on her next novel, she can be found discussing the latest in literary fare with her book club, playing a rousing game of Bunco with some of her oldest and dearest friends, researching her ancestry, volunteering in her community, burying her nose in a book, or obsessing over the latest binge-worthy TV series.   Today. I'm delighted to welcome author Diane Scott Lewis, whose splendid WWII romance of forbidden love just launched last month. We'll learn more about the book -- and we have a beautiful excerpt -- but let's get to know Diane a little better first. Congratulations, Diane,and welcome! 1)What sort of books did you enjoy reading as a child? Did you have a favorite book or series? When I was very young, I liked the Henry and Beezus series by Beverley Cleary. That annoying little sister, Romona! Later I devoured horse stories, anything horsie. By the end of elementary school, I was deep into mysteries and historical fiction. I wanted to visit exotic places. 2) What sort of books do you enjoy reading nowadays? Mainly historical fiction, because that’s what I write, especially from the era I’m writing in. I also enjoy a good romantic suspense, or romantic mystery, which can be historical or contemporary. 3) Around what age did you realize that you liked to write? And when did you know that you wanted to write books? I enjoyed writing before I could write. At age five I illustrated a story and told my mom what to put down for the words. At age ten I wrote a historical novel and a romantic suspense, both illustrated, of course. That’s when I knew. But life got in the way, work, husband, kids, so I put it off until twenty years ago. Wow! You started really young! That's amazing! 4) What’s the first thing you wrote that you remember being proud of? My first novel, a historical that took place in England during the French Revolution--Escape the Revolution. It took ten years to write, and revise, with lots of research. I dove in to write before studying the time-period. I’ll never do that again. 5) Tell us about the creative force within you. What inspires you to write, to create? I’ve always loved to tell stories and I’m a voracious reader. Tales will pop into my head after reading something, watching a movie, or visiting a certain site. I can’t help myself. Then the characters rush forth and demand their story be told. 6) What’s your writing space like? My office is a bedroom that leads out to the back door. A cluttered desk, bookcases crammed with books, research documents and maps. I need to sort through it all. I’m working on that.  Now, that's a writer's space! LOVE IT! 7) Do you have a favorite time of day to write? Any habits or little rituals that put you in a writing mindset? I prefer first thing in the morning, 7 to 12. Though when I was working, I wrote in the evenings. Coffee, lots of coffee keeps me going. Still, if I get an idea, I’ll run in anytime to jot it down. 8) Time to talk about your recent release (rubbing hands together). Are there any interesting tidbits you’d care to share with us? The TV series, Island at War, inspired me. The character of the baron was fascinating. How do I turn an anti-hero into a hero? I set my WWII novel in Brittany, France, a trapped Englishwoman and the German commandant. He’s not the man she thinks he is. I loved entwining them in the morass of war and mistrust. The idea of a forbidden affair. 9) Now let’s hear about Outcast Artist in Bretagne. Here is the blurb. Unwed and pregnant, Norah Cooper flees England to hide with her cousin in Brittany before Germany’s 1940 invasion. After her baby is stillborn, she's trapped under the Occupation. Norah consoles herself by sketching wildlife. When she’s caught near the coast, she comes under scrutiny of the German commandant, Major August von Gottlieb. August loathes what Hitler is doing to his country and France but is duty-bound to control the people in his jurisdiction. The young Englishwoman piques his interest. Is she a spy? He asks her to sketch his portrait so he might uncover the truth. Soon, their relationship evolves into a passion neither can deny. He plans to sabotage a major war machine of the Reich, while she secretly helps the Resistance. Will their love ruin her and end in heartbreak? Or will they overcome the odds and survive the surging threats. 10) I comprehend that you’ve just recently published a book. Still, I can’t help but ask – do you have anything waiting in the wings? Oh yes. I’m working on a young adult haunted house mystery with my granddaughter. And I’ve begun a Victorian time travel. I also have a story set in Greece in the 1950s that I’m halfway through. 11) Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? I like to keep my history authentic, and situations believable. No melodrama or coincidences. Unless I’m writing a Gothic young adult where ghosts are involved. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us, Diane. We look forward to more books from you and wish you all the best! And now, ladies and gents, enjoy a peek at Outcast Artist in Bretagne.  Outcast Artist in Bretagne – WWII heartbreak and forbidden love Can a damaged Englishwoman find love with her worst enemy, or will the brutality of war rip them apart? Is she a spy? Will he retaliate against Hitler? A dangerous love affair. Excerpt from Outcast Artist in Bretagne August raised his eyebrows. “You are straightforward, as always.” He sipped more cognac as his career stumbled through his mind. “Do you mean have I ever commanded or committed any executions? No, honestly, I have not.” He was proud of this, too—but how much longer would he have that choice? “That’s important to hear.” Norah looked relieved, her shoulders relaxed. “As long as you’re truthful.” “I have been. Do you wish to be finished once the painting is completed?” He must measure her feelings for him. “I don’t wish to be done, no.” She smiled, her voice tender. “We mean much to one another, don’t we?” he asked. She might walk away, reject him, though she seemed too sincere and brave for that. Or so he hoped. “We do, it seems. But what else can I paint?” She tilted her head as if waiting to see if he had the solution. Her mouth firmed with intensity. “What excuse will I have?” Reaching over, he clasped her hand and squeezed it, his thumb rubbing along her fingers. He shouldn’t offer to do this, to put them both on open display. “There is a fine palace about sixty kilometers from here. The Château de Keriolet, in Concarneau. A magnificent place. I’d like a painting of that. We could go for a day.”  About the Author Diane Parkinson (Diane Scott Lewis) grew up near San Francisco, joined the Navy at nineteen, married in Greece and raised two sons in Puerto Rico, California, and Guam. She's a member of the Historical Novel Society and wrote book reviews for their magazine. She’s always loved travel and history and has had several historical novels published. Diane lives with her husband and one naughty dachshund in western Pennsylvania.  I'm pleased to spotlight the latest from Author Michelle Godard-Richer! Love this author! Congratulations, Michelle!  No matter how much you want to forget them, some things cannot be unseen. Jessica opens her bedroom window in the middle of the night to catch a breeze, but instead, she witnesses something that will change the course of her life forever—her neighbor, David, loading his wife’s body onto the back of the truck. She soon learns David knows what she saw and will stop at nothing to eliminate the only witness to his crime. With her young son Bryce in tow, Jessica flees across the border to Montana. She discovers her first love, Jon Kent, is back in town after an early retirement from the FBI. But he isn’t the only one in town. David surfaces to unleash hell on Jessica and everyone she loves. Excerpt She scurried up the cabin stairs, glanced inside the door, and froze. Oh, this is not good. This is not good at all. A chair sat in the middle of the only room. Zip ties, a toolbox, a big jug of gasoline, and plastic were lined up next to each other on the floor. He meant to tie her up in the chair and torture her. And if help didn’t arrive soon, that may still be her fate. Her breathing accelerated and the room tilted. She forced her breaths to slow and her feet to start moving. She couldn’t hide in the cabin. The front door was the only way in and out, a trap, and the huge drop behind the cabin, certain death. Gunfire continued to erupt. She spun. David and Sheriff Hank were on opposite sides of Jon’s truck in a standoff. A red stain spread on Sheriff Hank’s chest, and he fell to the ground. Purchase here.  About the Author Michelle Godard-Richer is an award-winning thriller and romance author living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. With her degree in Criminology, she writes edge-of-your-seat suspenseful stories with strong protagonists and diabolical villains. MICHELLEGODARDRICHER.COM Goodreads BookBub TikTok  |
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