New, Good Deals, and Funny Stories

 8 25 2022 

 

 

I know that my last post had links to a number of reviews and giveaways of my latest book, but I was surprised by one more this week!  I think you need to apply for the e-book contest by Saturday. Or maybe Friday. I didn’t know Lorie Ham had asked Edith Maxwell to review this at Kings River Life Magazine and also didn’t know they were doing this giveaway! What a nice surprise!

 

https://kingsriverlife.com/08/20/death-in-the-new-land-by-kaye-george/

 

 

 

WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

 

I have more news, too! Now that it’s official, I feel I can tell you that I was asked to write a story for Black Cat Weekly by Michael Bracken. He had an idea and asked Josh Pachter to write it, but Josh suggested that I do it. Wasn’t that nice? Those are two very good guys. It was almost worth getting Covid, going to Malice Domestic and being asked this. (My family, to whom I gave it, would probably not agree.)

 

 

I signed and returned the contract this week, and it will be in edition #58, which should be the weekend of October 8^th, if I counted correctly.

 

If you don’t subscribe to this excellent publication, you probably should. You can sign up or buy copies here: https://bcmystery.com/

 

AND THIS IS GOOD!

 

Untreed Reads has arranged for special priced bundles for the Neanderthal books, People of the Wind, AND for my Imogene Duckworthy novels at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/. You get all three novels in all e-formats.

 https://bit.ly/POTWBundle

https://bit.ly/iduckworthybundle

 

TWO FUNNY STORIES

  

Last week I took a quick trip to see that same family and did NOT bring them any diseases. My grandsons both take violin lessons, from two different teachers, and they were happening two of the days I was there. I tagged along to meet the teachers and see the lessons. (I’m a violinist and used to give lessons long ago.) At the first lesson for the older boy (and my daughter) (who is a clarinet and recorder player who recently decided to learn violin and cello), the teacher asked if I’d like to do a duet with her at the end of the lesson. I got to play my daughter’s violin, which is a joy to play.

 

 

The teacher thumbed through some of her duet books and I landed on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which she said she did not know! It was fun, and when I got home, I asked my daughter to give me the teacher’s email so I could send her the YouTube of Cohen singing it. I like the one live in London. My daughter sent me the email on my business account for Kaye George, and I emailed her from there, not thinking about the link to my webpage. Well, turns out she loves mysteries and by the next week, had ordered some of mine!

 

 

Okay, that was really fun, but here’s an even funnier related story. My younger grandson is very impressed that Grandma is an author. We went out to lunch one day and he asked his parents if people would be asking Grandma for her autograph. I refrained from loud laughter, but said it was unlikely.

 

 

Then his lesson was later that day. He had to brag to his teacher that I was a writer and it turns out she reads mostly cozy mysteries! So I gave her a card and, just before we left, she asked me to autograph it—using that word. My grandson got his wish!

 

 

New book, new story coming up, and two new fans—it’s all good!

 

I hope your month is going well, too.

Guest L. A. Sartor asks: What do you do when a 20-Year-Old manuscript won’t leave you alone?

I'm delighted to be hosting best-selling author L. A. today! Also delighted to be able to offer a giveaway to a commenter below. I'll pick a winner for the ebook next Tuesday night.  

What do you do when a 20-Year-Old manuscript won’t leave you alone?

 

I have a vanity wall in my office. You know, that wall where you hang your awards? And I swear the award for a book I wrote in the late 1990s kept nagging me. “Fix me, publish me, don’t let me sit in the drawer.” I could literally hear it.

 

Finally, I caved. I pulled out the iterations of the novel called Betrayal of the Trust and dug in. And dug myself into a hole, actually a crater. I realized that I couldn’t simply just fix the book. It needed a deeper plot, characters with stronger motivations and a tad bit more conflict. It needed a couple of new characters. It needed to be brought into the 21^st Century.

 

It needed a lot of time, tears and wanting to call it quits too many times to count. But I’m stubborn and I kept on.

 

 

Finally, Brushed By Betrayal was born. My 9^th book. I had help with the title, which at first was like pulling teeth to think of changing, but is now the perfect title. The story morphed from a Romantic Suspense to a Suspense with romantic elements, and I discovered a whole new me as a writer. Not bad for one story, eh?

 

Now I’m afraid some of my screenplay awards will nag me about making them into books. I did one, Stone of Heaven, and even created The Carswell Series from it with Viking Gold as book two and the 3^rd to come. I swear I hear the whispers of jealousy from the other screenplays rustling those frames.

 

Are you wondering what the catalyst was for a multi-published writer to feel like I’d found myself finally as a writer?

 

 Well, did you know there are plot-driven and character-driven writers? I didn’t, and I’ve been writing for decade(s). But I was told by someone I highly respect that I was definitely a plot-driven writer. At first, I bristled at that “label”, very insulted. But by the end of the day, researching the two differing concepts, I realized that indeed that’s what I am.

 

And because I embrace the label now, I’m very comfortable with my new direction in writing (those screenplays will just have to wait their turn.) DRUM ROLL … I’m starting writing in an entire new genre and creating a cozy mystery series set in the mythical Colorado ski town of Angelcroft. The Jenna Hart Jewelry Mysteries will debut before Christmas as Tick Tock Dead is set during Christmas. Another first for me is that I’ll be writing this series in first person. And I’m completely surprised that I love writing in first person. It’s different and challenging.

 

Apparently, I don’t shy away from challenges.

 

I’d love to hear in the comments what you think about the differences in the two terms. I’m happy to give away an ebook copy of Brushed By Betrayal to someone who comments. Kaye will randomly pick the winner.

 

And please sign up for my newsletter if you want the latest updates on books and my new series. I won’t slam you with mailings, usually one a month. https://lesliesartor.com/contact-me

 

Blurb:

“You’re next and the circle will be complete.”

Jade Laurent, art expert and owner of the prestigious Laurent Art Brokers in Boulder, Colorado, is mourning the one-year anniversary of her father’s death when a close associate is killed and that chilling message for Jade is found by his body.

Private Investigator Malcolm Talbot is coming off his latest grueling case when he receives a request that he cannot refuse. To discover who’s put Jade’s life in jeopardy. The problem is that Jade refuses to stand by idly and let him do his job.

 

The last thing Malcolm needs is an amateur getting in the way and maybe getting dead. The last thing Jade needs is a professional who can’t find an ounce of compassion for her need to be involved.

 

While matching wits with a killer who is always one step ahead, dark secrets are revealed, putting everything Jade has believed in at risk.

 

If you like nail biting suspense, complicated mysteries, and characters who find their soul mates, then you’ll love L.A. Sartor’s newest story Brushed By Betrayal.

 

Buy it today to find new characters to love and revisit old friends from Dare to Believe.

 

Sales Link:

Amazon

 

Bio:

 

I started writing as a child, really. A few things happened on the way to becoming a published author … specifically, a junior high school teacher who told me I couldn’t write because I didn’t want to study grammar.

 

That English teacher stopped my writing for years.  But the muse couldn’t be denied, and eventually I wrote, a lot, some of it award winning. However, I wasn’t really making a career from any of this.

 

My husband told me repeatedly that independent publishing was becoming a valid way to publish a novel. I didn’t believe him, I thought indie meant vanity press.

 

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I started pursuing this direction seriously, hit the keyboard, learned a litany of new things and published my first novel. My second book became a bestseller, and I’m absolutely on the right course in my life.

 

Please come visit me here, see my books, find my social media links, and sign up for my mailing list. I have a gift I’ve specifically created for my new email subscribers. And remember, you can email me at Leslie@LeslieSartor.com 

 

Find L.A.:

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

BookBub

Goodreads

YouTube Channel

Amazon Author Page

Instagram

 

 

An Embarrassment of...

The phrase is, an embarrassment of riches, right? 

from pixabay.com

But this is an embarrassment of blogs! But I’m not a bit embarrassed.

from pixabay.com

 

Okay, pay no attention to that title. But you should look in on these places.

I have a new book coming out in mere days, about a week. So, with a little help from my friends and their blogs, I’m trying to give away copies of the new book! I’d love for some of you to enter the two contests going on. They end tonight!

 

The first blog is MYSTERY LOVER KITCHEN. This is where I make the recipe from my upcoming cozy mystery, INTO THE SWEET HEREAFTER, take pictures while I do, then post them, then eat what I made. I admit, I gave some of the Clark Bars to my son’s family. I thought they were terrific, and pretty easy to make. Here’s how to get there, to comment to win a copy:

https://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2021/02/guest-kaye-george-with-clark-bars-from.html

 

 

PS. Even when I’m not there, you should visit this place. It’s always a lot of fun.

 

The second place featuring me is Kings River Life. This e-zine has published my short fiction and reviewed my long stuff. The staff there are good people and great friends. If you read to the end of this one, you’ll see me give a shout out to my writing partners in the small group we call Plothatchers. I don’t know what I’d do without them. There's a giveaway here, too!

https://kingsriverlife.com/02/24/friends-and-sidekicks/

 

Batman and Robin from pixabay.com

Last, but not least, Debra Goldstein, former judge and current mystery writer, has given me space to talk about cooking versus baking. I have a definite preference! Her Sarah Blair character does too—neither.

https://www.debrahgoldstein.com/theres-cooking-and-theres-baking-by-kaye-george/

 

author picture from Debra's site

 

It makes me so happy to give away my e-books, that I’d like to do some here, too! Make a comment on this blog and I’ll pick someone for a book on Friday night.

 

Meanwhile, stay safe. Take care of yourself and each other.

 

Audio #giveaway this week!

My second Vintage Sweets mystery, DEADLY SWEET TOOTH, is now out as an audio book! (Also paperback and e-book, of course.) It sounds great, if I do say so myself.

I know a lot of people listen to audio books around the house, as well as when we used to go on the road. Remember those days? I always took a few in the car for road trips.

My publisher is letting me give some away, and I’d LOVE to give one away here. I’ll leave this open until  the end of week, then pick a winner from the comment section.

Let me know if you’d like to be entered!

PS If you’re a member of the online audio deal where you get free audio books, here’s a link to pick this one up: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Sweet-Tooth-Vintage-Mystery/dp/B08FCXGV7B/

PPS Here’s a sample!

http://tinyurl.com/y3mhojl6

 

I love this publisher!

How great is this? A spotlight in Woman’s World!

Lyrical Press has done so much good publicity for my Vintage Sweets series. Lots of giveaways. (HINT: I still have some e-book giveaways for DEADLY SWEET TOOTH. I’d love to give them to readers who will consider giving the book a review on Amazon or Goodreads or both.)

Please email me at kayegeorge at gmail dot com and I’ll hand them out to the first comers. I’m not only grateful for this publisher, but also my wonderful fans and readers!

New Year, New Series!

This blog appeared on Killer Characters (Where the characters do the talking...) 1.4.2020

by Tally Holt, owner of Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets in Fredericksburg, TX

from the Vintage Sweets series, upcoming in March

I’m feeling lucky, starting a new year in my very own shop. I wouldn’t be here if my friend Yolanda Bella hadn’t urged me to move here and rent the space next door to her place, Bella’s Baskets. I’ve hired a good crew, I think, to help me sell my vintage sweets.

It was a stroke of serendipity that my grandmother arranged to have her recipe box sent to me after her death. For one thing, going through those index cards in the old metal box brought back sweet memories of the precious woman who had helped raise me. She had come from New Jersey to Texas and always retained a fondness for the old place. When I tried a couple of the recipes, the smells and textures almost brought her back to life in my kitchen.

I wasted no time selling my bakery in Austin and setting up a vintage sweet shop, using her recipes for my basic products. I think I’ll ring in the New Year with the Irish Cream Truffle Fudge.

My author, Kaye George, wants you to know that my first adventure is on preorder at https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Sweet-Vintage-Sweets-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07TS1KJ4T/

But, better yet, you can enter a Goodreads Giveaway that our generous publisher, Lyrical Press, has set up, to WIN a free copy. It goes until January 17^th. Good luck!!

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/301653-revenge-is-sweet

http://kayegeorge.com/

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I’m going to take a short cut this week and refer you over to my Killer Characters blog. I’m running a giveaway that will end the night of the 6th, so you have time to enter!

http://www.killercharacters.com/2018/12/quincy-confronts-nigel-giveaway.html

While you’re there, check out some of the other giveaways that might still be current. Everyone on the blog is doing these for our Season’s Reading project. It runs until the 14th. A new one every day.

http://www.killercharacters.com/

I hope you’re surviving this hectic time of year! We can make it. We do every year.