Polly’s List by Kim Ligon
Give a warm welcome to Kim Ligon, author of Polly’s List! Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Kim and her Polly’s List.Kim, I have a few quick questions for you:
What makes you laugh out loud? Wile E Coyote. I can’t watch an entire Road Runner cartoon without at least one out loud laugh.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block? Do something else creative. Spin fiber, knit, crochet, play the piano, build buildings for the model railroad layout, start a different story.
How long have you been writing? I have been writing since I was nine years old—decades! Only just now getting published.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer? My family and friends knew I was writing and I set up my blog site www.spinningromance.com specifically to keep them in the loop on my writing adventure, as well as to share my observations of the world around me. Everyone has been helpful and encouraging on this journey. I am blessed.
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: Casablanca
Favorite book: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Last book read: The Bee Keeper’s Ball by Susan Wiggs
Favorite color: Purple
Stilettos or flipflops: Flipflops
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Paperback
Pencil or pen: Pencil
Favorite song: Brown Eyed Girl
Streak or not: Not
Favorite dessert: Chocolate anything
Favorite junk food: Popcorn
Favorite thing to do to relax: Spin
Champagne or gin: Champagne
Paranormal or Historical: Historical
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: Toon in With ME
Hot or cold: Hot
POV: Third
I’d die if I don’t have: Family
Review or Not: Review
Tell us a little about Polly’s List.
CJ Reynolds couldn’t wait to escape his hometown. He’s loving his bachelor life as a software developer in California. So much so that he hasn’t been back in years to see the grandmother who raised him.
Mikal Benson believes her small town is perfect for raising her son, Will, alone. When she finds her neighbor, Polly Rogers, sprawled on the floor- barely clinging to life – in a pool of blood, she calls Polly’s grandson—CJ Reynolds—and insists he must come home. Now!
From her coma, Polly whispers three words that change everything. Did she fall or was she pushed? CJ, Mikal, and Will form an unlikely team coming together to discover the truth as danger engulfs them. …danger engulfs them and love transforms them into a family.
Sneak Peak Between the Pages: of Polly’s List
POLLY’S LIST By Kim Janine Ligon From Wild Rose Press 8/17/2022
Why is the Bassett baying? Mikal Benson hurried across the yard and pushed her neighbor’s unlocked back door open. It groaned loudly. The still howling dog rumbled into the kitchen – as quickly as his short legs would allow.
“What’s wrong Rhett? Polly, where are you?” she called as she crossed the worn linoleum-covered kitchen floor. “It’s me, Mikal.”
The dog loped into the front entryway. She followed. What happened? Was the purple-flowered heap with legs and arms akimbo Polly? Blood pooled beneath her head . The body was lying in front of the door. Was she still alive? Mikal knelt beside her neighbor’s crumpled body. She gently picked up her arm and felt for a pulse. It was faint. Polly took a ragged breath and moaned. Mikal pulled her cell phone out and called 911.
A blood stain circled Polly’s head like a dark, expanding halo – blotting out the muted colors of the antique rug and spreading into the cracks in the parquet floor. Something had to be done.
BUY LINKS”
GOODREADS, BOOK BUB, AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE,
About the Author:
Kim Ligon has been writing stories for most of her life—some on paper and some only in her head. She has lots of source material growing up as the oldest child in a large family in a small town in Wisconsin. Her father was a veterinarian so there were not only lots of children around, but all manner of house pets and farm animals too. Her love of reading comes from her mother who was seldom seen sitting down without a book in her hand. After a demanding career in healthcare information technology, she is now getting to do all the creative things she loves which includes writing her stories to share with you. She lives with her chief encourager and personal romantic hero, her husband of almost forever, in Alabama. Please follow her further adventures at www.spinningromance.com
FOLLOW ME AT: https://www.spinningromance.com
CONTACT ME AT: KimJanine@spinningromance.com
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Kim Ligon, Mystery, Polly's List by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.
Chocolate Raspberry Magic #MFRWHooks
Yippee!! #MFRWHooks presents Chocolate Raspberry Magic, an award winning #mystery #fantasy #animalrescue. Part of A Witch’s Journey Series. All books can be read as stand alone and are in audiobooks. Fund-raising, Ice cream social, furry and feathered babies, romance, mystery, and magic what more could you ask for in a paranormal romance/mystery?Join the #fantasy#adventure, download a copy or two today! Psst… available in audiobook too!
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Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Chocolate Raspberry Magic. fourth book in A Witch Journey Series. All books can be read as stand alone. Go ahead you, know you want to, grab a copy and join the #magical #fantasy, #adventure today! You’ll be so glad you did.
What is Chocolate Raspberry Magic all about?
Prim and proper Trinity Shilo is the assistant manager for Salem’s Wildlife Sanctuary. She hasn’t had much luck in the boyfriend department, but the new employee Paul is different. Deep and brooding she sees something special hidden below the surface. Besides she has secrets of her own.
Paul Thorp is a wounded Special Forces veteran now working in security and computer support. He’s fought hard to keep his demons in check and for the first time feels he is ready for a real relationship.
When a fire breaks out at Puffin Cove Rescue they are called in to help with the recovery and ice cream social fundraiser. Sometimes things are not what they seem, and neither are people. When magic is unleashed will what they learn bring them closer together or push them apart?
Sneak peek between the pages of Chocolate Raspberry Magic:
As Paul exited the vehicle a trickle of sweat rolled down the side of his face. Scenes from a far-off place blurred his vision. Explosions, gunfire, and the smell of death drowned out the present. Resting a shaky hand on the vehicle, he leaned against it, his pulse ratcheting up several notches.
Get a grip. I can’t let this go sideways. Drawing in deep breaths, he tried to gain control. Finally, his pulse slowed, and he swallowed hard. I can do this. Wiping away the sweat now streaming down his face, he closed his eyes willing the flashback away.
“Paul…Paul are you all right?” Trinity’s urgent voice brought focus to his mind. A soft but firm hand on his shoulder gave him a little shake. “Lathen and Pepper are heading toward us. Maybe they can tell us where Gwen and Brock are.”
“Yes. I’m fine. Give me a minute.” Straightening, he opened the back door to the vehicle, and began removing boxes of medical supplies and lockboxes of medicine. He mopped his face again with the sleeve of his shirt. Going through the motions until…
“Oh, wonderful, you’ve brought the supplies.” Pepper’s cheerful voice cut through the chaos. “We’ll need these…” She paused lifting an eyebrow. “You all right Paul?”
“Yes, yes, just give me a minute.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Pepper’s concerned expression then her waving Lathen over. Shit, that’s all I need. Trinity stood beside helping him take the boxes out of the SUV.
He saw concern reflected on his friend’s face. “Paul, you’re okay. Let’s get going.” Lathen gave him a shake, then turned and got in his face. “Don’t give in to it. Push it away. Get moving. People are counting on you.”
Was it sheer will? Or—what he wasn’t sure. But as suddenly as the visions began, they faded leaving him shaky but in control. “I’m good,” he assured Lathen, picking up a box of medical supplies and following Pepper to a tent they’d set up to evaluate the animals.
Available from Amazon, Ibooks, Barnes and Noble, Audible, Kobo, and Google Play
Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.
This is a blog hop! Visit all the Book Hooks from #MFRWHooks – Your next GREAT read is waiting!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged animal rescue, Chocolate Raspberry Magic, magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.
A WItch’s Quandary – RONE Nominee – Voting Now
Welcome to Authors’ Secrets! I’ve fantastic news. A WITCH’S QUANDARY is nominated for the prestigious RONE AWARDS in the paranormal short category!. Woo Hoo! To celebrate, I’ve put A WITCH’S QUANDARY on sale for 99¢ ! Yippee! Now comes the fun part, you the readers, get to vote on the final winners!
I’d be extremely grateful for your vote. May 9-13, 2022. In fairness of voting, you can only vote once. So please mark you calendars! Here’s the scoop on where and how to vote.
Mark your Calendars! On Week 5, May 9-13 of the RONE Awards voting, and A Witch’s Quandary is up. I’d love your vote!
- Go to https://indtale.com/user?current=node/1
- Create an account if you don’t already have one.
- Check your email and VERIFY the account.
- Click on https://indtale.com/2022-rone-award-reader-votingand scroll to WEEK 5.
- There are 3 categories. A Witch’s Quandary is in Paranormal Short: Click on it. Then go to the bottom of the category and click VOTE.
- THAT’S IT, YOU’RE DONE!
I really appreciate any and all votes! And to my fellow nominees, good luck!
A Little About A WITCH’S QUANDARY!
Gale’s engagement is off because she refuses to leave her thriving business in Ireland to follow Dillon to Scotland. Her family and friends are on the emerald isle. Yet, when Dillon returns with the whole story and asks for her help, she must follow her heart.
Becoming a Solicitor, then partner in the family law firm was never Dillon’s dream. Now it’s his nightmare. Called to Scotland, his father demands he take his rightful place in the firm or be disowned and disinherited. Something is terribly amiss in the firm and family.
During Gale and Dillon’s investigation, they discover the enforcer for the Demon Overlord is also delving into rumors the firm is acting illegally. Magic has been stolen, someone is being blackmailed, and a member of the Witch’s council is corrupt. If Gale and Dillon want a life together in Ireland, they have to unearth secrets threatening to destroy the firm and family in Scotland.
A Few Buy Links:
Universal link Amazon, BarnesandNobel, ibooks, and Kobo
How about a sneak peek between the pages of A WITCH’S QUANDARY? The hook!
“This is an outrage. It’s my firm.” Bram bellowed slamming his fist down on the table. Sparks flew in all directions creating a red-hot spider web of power crackling across the tabletop. Everyone at the table scrambled back or stood. Dillon caught the malevolent spark in his father’s eye a split-second after Gale. She had already brought her hands together, the room sizzled as she conjured a ball of fire and with a few words sent the witch fire and spell at him.
“What have you done?” Bram screeched as the fire and spell hit him center mass. “Witchfire too? Bitch.” He slid to the floor.
Iris ran to his side, tears spilling her cheeks, she wiped his sweat-soaked brow with a napkin. “You just couldn’t stop, could you? What did you do? Make a deal with the devil? We should have put a stop to it. To you. But…” She helped him into a chair. “I’m afraid you’ve messed with the wrong witch, this time. Brought this on yourself. You did. But I won’t let you take this family—the firm—down with you.” Giving his shoulders a little shake, she gazed into his shocked eyes. “What have you done?”
Bram slowly shook his head and murmured, “It’s my firm.” He raised his gaze and glared at Gale pointing a bony finger at her. “You’ll pay for this.” Then turned his attention to Dillon. “I told you nothing good would come from aligning yourself with this witch. Her blood is not pure. Diluted by the Fae power of her…” He broke off.
Dillon stood at Gale’s back his hands steady and supportive on her shoulders as she said nothing for several beats. Eventually, she turned her emerald green eyes to him and held his gaze. “I couldn’t let him divide the family with that dark magic. I tempered my deadly witch fire with the spell.” She tore her gaze from Dillon’s, touching her fingertips to the scorched marks radiating across the table stopping an inch from the edge all around. “If he’d succeeded, there’d been no turning back. If the tendrils of that spell had left the table and reached one of you…” She shook her head.
Appearing to gather his wits about him faster than the rest of his family, Sturgen surveyed the scene, wiped his brow with a monogrammed handkerchief, and sucked in a breath. “The firm is no longer yours.” He squeezed Olivia to him, starting for the door. “We’ve had enough for one night. Let’s adjourn until a full audit of the cases and firm can be conducted.”
Thank you all so much!
Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Witch's Quandary, fantasy, ghosts, magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Toes on the Dash by Karen C. Whalen
Give a warm welcome to Karen C. Whalen, author of Toes on the Dash, first book in the Tow Truck Murder Mystery Series, released on April 25, 2022. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Karen and Toes on the Dash. Karen, how did you come up with this idea for this unique series?
Hauling cars for a living provides my amateur sleuth, Delaney Morran, with many opportunities to find the bodies of murder victims. And of course, Delaney is not able to keep out of the way of the handsome homicide investigator, so she solves the crime before he does.
How did I come up with the idea for this series? I met a few tow truck drivers.
In my previous life, I worked as a paralegal at a law firm that represented tow truck companies. These car haulers are an under-appreciated, crazy breed, with interesting stories to tell. One crusty character operated his office from his truck which he parked in the middle of a junkyard. His lobby was a carpet remnant, sopping wet and smelly, that led up to the truck door. The visitor’s chair was the passenger seat, dirty and worn. His filing cabinet was his sun visor. His professional demeanor was lacking. I’m sure all tow truck drivers are not alike, but this man was a character bigger than life, someone I will never forget.
That all of the tow truck drivers the law firm represented were men made me think…women in the industry would need to be tough to compete in this man’s world. But what if a woman did own the business? What if the woman was young and inexperienced? What if she wore high heels to set herself apart? Oooh, sounds fun, amiright? And that’s where the idea came from.
Then I met a few female tow truck drivers.
One woman tower told me she was bit by the towing industry bug and fell in love with the career. She hauled cars after a catastrophic flood while in her second trimester with her fourth child. Talk about a larger than life character! And she’s given me some exciting story ideas, too.
And so the first book was born. In Toes on the Dash, super-feminine and confirmed shoe-a-holic Delaney Morran receives an unexpected inheritance—the keys to a tow truck—from a dad she’s never known. Despite the fact she hasn’t changed a tire in all of her twenty-eight years, she decides to give the dangerous business a chance. When she finds her jerk of an ex-boyfriend’s body in the truck of the first car she hauls, she becomes the prime suspect. Delaney must toughen up her image as the tow truck operator in high-heels and find the killer in her otherwise safe mountain town.
Sounds like a winner, Karen!
Tell us a little about Toes on the Dash.
Super-feminine and confirmed shoe-a-holic Delaney Morran receives an unexpected inheritance—the keys to a tow truck from a dad she’s never known. Even though she hasn’t changed a tire, or even driven any kind of a truck, she’s determined to make the rough and dangerous business a success. When she hauls a vehicle with the body of her jerk-of-an ex hidden in the trunk, the small-town cops in Spruce Ridge, Colorado do not believe this a coincidence. They have her in their headlights as the prime suspect. When the news hits, her business stalls. As a woman trying to make a living in a man’s world, she drives her rig in four-inch heels to set herself apart. But she must toughen up her image and solve the crime or she’ll end up parked in jail.
A sneak peek between the pages of Toes on the Dash:
Stopping with my hand on the door, I sneaked a peek left and right, worried someone I knew would recognize me, then I took a deep breath and stole inside. Need I explain? This is a small town.
My eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark. One girl wearing a thong—thank goodness she wasn’t anyone I knew—was on stage. Mr. Hot Head sat at the bar with a tall beer, foam on top, glass full. Looked like he had just been served a fresh, cold one, and this early in the day, too. I backed out the door, ran for the tow truck, and zipped back to the alley as fast as I could.
I angled the truck in front of Hot Head’s Jeep and muscled the dolly wheels over to the rear end, crouching low to the ground, getting a whiff of the rank dumpster. Hot Head couldn’t see me from inside the building, but he had a sixth sense about me, and I was determined to keep under his radar. I jacked up the first dolly wheel and was on my way around the back bumper to jack up the second one, when bam!
I stumbled right into Hot Head. He had a tire iron in his meaty fist.
Here is the tagline:
She went from wearing stilettos to hauling stiffs
Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble and ibooks
About the Author;
Karen C. Whalen is the author of two mystery series for The Wild Rose Press: the Dinner Club Mysteries featuring Jane Marsh, an empty nester who hosts a gourmet dinner club, and the Tow Truck Mysteries starring Delaney Moran, a super feminine shoe-a-holic who drives a tow truck. Both are cozy mysteries about strong friendships and family ties set in Colorado. The first book in the Dinner Club series tied for First Place in the Suspense Novel category of the 2017 IDA Contest sponsored by Oklahoma Romance Writers of America. Whalen worked for many years as a paralegal at a law firm in Denver, Colorado and was a columnist and regular contributor to The National Paralegal Reporter magazine. Whalen loves to host dinner clubs, entertain friends, ride bicycles, hike in the mountains, and read cozy murder mysteries.
Social media links:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karen-c-whalen
It’s been great having you with us today. Good luck with Toes on the Dash.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Cozy Mystery, Karen Whalen, Mystery, Toes on the Dash, Tow Truck, Two Truck Murder Mystery Series by Tena Stetler with 12 comments.
