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Terry Ambrose

Writing is like a good barbecue sauce, if it ain't bold, it ain't worth doing.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Guest Post

Guest Post

Excerpt from Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork by Rose Pressey

January 21, 2021 By Terry 2 Comments

Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork tour graphic
Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork cover

It’s not just murder that can haunt your handiwork, but also our health. Today’s guest poster was unable to finish the post because of complications due to a surgery. In place of the guest post for Murder Can Haunt Your Handiwork, here’s an excerpt. Best of all, there’s still a giveaway!

“Oh no. I can see the amateur sleuth wheels turning in your head. Maybe it would be a good idea if you didn’t get involved,” Caleb said.

“Not get involved? Not get involved?” I gestured widely with my hand. “I have to get involved now. I’m practically a detective on the case now. After all, I was the first one on the scene. That means I have to get involved.”

“Wait just a minute,” Pierce said.

I hadn’t realized that he had stepped beside me.

“There are plenty of detectives here to handle the case, and I think they have everything under control,” Pierce added.

“Pierce is right. They can handle this, Celeste,” Caleb said.

Now they were agreeing with each other? I would humor Caleb and Pierce and act as if I weren’t getting involved, but I knew I would. Seeing the woman like that just made me want to help her. It was heartbreaking. We had to know who did this to her. I had faith in the detectives, of course, but I was sure they could use some help.

Who couldn’t use help every now and then?

Caleb and Pierce stared at me suspiciously. I had to pretend that I agreed with them.

“Okay, I guess you guys are right,” I said with a smile.

Did that seem genuine? I needed to work on my acting skills.

“I think it’s time we got you out of here,” Caleb said, taking me by the arm.

Pierce took my other arm. “Yes, that’s a good idea.”

Now I was being escorted out of the building. This wouldn’t look good, either. At least I wasn’t in handcuffs.

Being escorted by two handsome men wasn’t so terrible.

Though the rivalry between them was getting out of control.

Rose Pressey

When we stepped out into the bright sunshine, Pierce and Caleb released their hold on me. I shielded my eyes until they adjusted to the light. A crowd had gathered just beyond the taped-off area. News crews had arrived. Several vans, with their stations’ call letters written across the sides, were parked close by. Since the reporters’ attention was focused on us as we walked toward them, I knew we would be bombarded with questions.

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Best vacation ever – a guest post for Abide with Me

December 3, 2020 By Terry 7 Comments

Best Vacation Ever is a guest post for the Abide with Me book tour
Abide with Me book cover

For our tenth wedding anniversary, my husband Don and I traveled to Wales. Our best vacation ever took place only a couple of years ago, but it feels a long time ago, since it was back in the day when one could travel and move about freely. We planned the trip partly because I had written the first book of the Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn series (which is set in Wales) without ever having been to Wales. Progress on the second book was moving along and I realized, I needed to visit. As you can imagine, I was a little nervous. What if the Wales that I imagined as I wrote the books, was drastically different from the real Wales?

Well, a few differences jumped out as we began to explore. For one thing, a lot more sheep inhabit Wales than I ever realized. There are four sheep for every one person in Wales. Consequently, sheep began to populate my storyline. In fact, the sisters at Gwenafwy start a small flock of Mountain Sheep and a new character enters, Ben Holden, the caretaker of the sheep. 

Author Jane Willan - Best Vacation Ever

Another difference—and this might sound strange—but Wales is grander than I imagined with its vast green hillsides and stretches of rolling land. The landscape is no less than stunning. I occasionally have my characters, especially Sister Agatha, stopping to breathe in the beauty of the countryside. And as she should. The natural world of Wales is overwhelming in its magnificence. The climate is also windier and cooler than I had imagined. I bought a fleece the second day that I was there.

But lots of the Wales I imagined was the same as the Wales that I visited.

The people were incredibly friendly and down-to-earth.  Sister Agatha and her love of the Welsh people is well deserved. I met so many kind and generous people, it made me want to move there.

The churches and castles were exactly as I pictured them. In fact, they were even more of what I imagined. If that is possible. I stood in the pulpit of St. Asaph’s Cathedral—a pulpit where a major character in the story stands—The Bishop Suzanne Bainton. The pulpit and the cathedral itself were spectacular. The many castles, fortresses, and stone churches are now being incorporated into Sister Agatha’s world. 

Wales. A fabulous setting for a mystery novel. An even better place to visit.

Best vacation ever is a guest post by author Jane Willan for the launch of her cozy mystery Abide with Me. Learn more at www.janewillan.com. See more book news, including Author Interviews, here.

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Dead of Winter Break by Kelly Brakenhoff

November 26, 2020 By Terry 3 Comments

Dead of Winter Break tour graphic
Dead of Winter Break by Kelly Brakenhoff

This is a guest post by Kelly Brakenhoff. It’s part of a virtual book tour for Dead of Winter Break. When I read the post, I thought of how many people are affected this way.

Finding My Way Back

I thought I’d get so much done.

When everything closed the spring, and my day job as an ASL Interpreter was paused, at first, I was a little bit excited. At times, I’ve fantasized about reducing my interpreting work hours and increasing my writing time so that I can write more books, organize the empty nest, and pamper the dogs. A slow, leisurely transition to retiring and spending my days traveling the world, writing books, and drinking wine in foreign lands.

Not a bad fantasy, right?

The March reality check hit more abruptly than any of us expected. One week I was working in college classrooms, the next I was home 24/7. My husband works for a sand and gravel mine, mostly outside and never changed his schedule during the spring.

The dogs were confused.

I slept late and stayed in my pajamas past noon. I struggled to write, or clean house, or even shower daily. It was the first time in my adult life I was without a job and not home with a newborn baby. Optimism is my normal mindset, but it was a struggle.

I know many of you can relate.

Kelly Brakenhoff author of Dead of Winter Break

Knowing I wasn’t alone in my distress kind of helped. After a few weeks of wallowing, I tired of kicking myself because I hadn’t finished the next book, cleaned a closet, or even done laundry. Here in the Midwest, cocooned in my neighborhood, I’ve avoided the virus as much as possible but often felt guilty about how little physical activity I got or how many carbs I ate. When our 15-year-old dog died in June, it was time for a change. For my mental health, I had to give myself permission.

Permission to veg. Permission to eat what I want.

Eventually I found alternatives to keep my brain challenged even when I didn’t feel creative enough to bang out the next mystery on my laptop. I read Chris Fox’s book 5,000 Words Per Day. No I still don’t write that fast yet, but I’ve tried some of his tips to increase my focus and decrease my distractions.

I read On Writing by Stephen King. I doubt Mr. King sat around all spring and summer wringing his hands and feeling angsty about getting words on the page. I signed up for Masterclass and watched videos by Neil Gaiman, Steve Martin, David Baldacci and more. At least on the videos someone was talking to me.

The worst part was the forced introverting.

Anyone who knows me would tell you I’m an extrovert. But I had no idea how much I need to be around people and talk to them until I couldn’t. Nowadays I’m back to work, although it’s mostly online from home. I’ve learned to make a weekly run date with a friend. I take walks with my neighbor who also works from home or play fetch with our German Wirehair dog.

What most helped bring me back to myself were the inspirational emails I subscribe to from Bishop Robert Barron and Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, along with a few authors who have funny monthly newsletters. My monthly book club met at the park this summer. I FaceTime my family more.

Staring into the abyss of more restrictions this fall and winter (our state has more cases than ever this week), I’m making my winter mental/physical health plan. Some days will be too cold or snowy to get outside, and I want to have options.

  • Read something inspirational every day. Pray and meditate.
  • Workout every day at least 30 min.
  • Creatively keep my weekly exercise dates with friends while indoors. Maybe we’ll wear masks? Or I’ll get on my elliptical and my friend can get on her treadmill and we can call and chat while working out inside at same time.
  • Before I eat junk or binge watch TV for hours, I’ll ask myself the question: “How will I feel afterwards?”
  • Put up Christmas decor and shop for gifts even if I don’t feel like it at first.
  • Keep writing a little bit every day. Even just 1,000 words a weekday adds up to 252,000 words per year.

Unfortunately, the pandemic isn’t going away as quickly as we had all hoped. What’s your winter plan for keeping your spirits up? Share your ideas in the comments and maybe they’ll inspire the rest of us.

Be well, friends!

Learn more about Dead of Winter Break and Kelly Brakenhoff at kellybrakenhoff.com. If you like this guest post, why not check out some of my Author Interviews?

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Shrouded in Mystery – a guest post for Spawning Suspicion

November 19, 2020 By Terry 2 Comments

Spawning Suspicion tour graphic
Spawning Suspicion cover

Shrouded in Mystery

By Maggie Toussaint 

In Spawning Suspicion and the other Seafood Caper Mysteries, two characters are standouts. These super seniors are well known for holding court in the island’s tiny post office, where they collect and disperse information.

Octogenarians Ola Mae Reed and Valerie Reed moved to Shell Island about 25 years ago and set up house together. Rumor is these sisters helped their husbands into early graves, but who believes everything they hear? With matching caps of closely shorn white curls, trim bodies, pastel pantsuits, and slip-on sneakers, these gals cut a fine figure.

The eldest, Ola Mae, is clearly the outspoken one of the pair, but just when you think Valerie is the quiet, complacent one, she reins her sister in. These spitfire ladies are well known for squeezing a dollar until it cries mercy. Case in point, they recently sprang for new funeral attire after decades of service from their old outfits. No way would they miss anyone’s funeral. Some islanders call them professional mourners.

My sleuth River Holloway Merrick recently observed that the sisters’ home interior was painted. The sisters had new locks installed too, claiming they needed extra safety precautions to protect them from the sudden wave of island crime.

Maggie Toussaint, author of Spawning Suspicion

I could’ve told them they were wasting their money. After all, hardly anyone on Shell Island would ever consider visiting the sisters’ home. Nor would they eat or drink food anything the women fixed for fear of being poisoned. By contrast, my sleuth River isn’t scared to visit the sisters. She does not eat or drink anything the sisters make though.

Despite their murky backgrounds, these sisters bring a sense of community to the island’s seniors. They’re currently mobilizing to elect their candidate Deputy Gil Franklin to be sheriff and have the incompetent one removed.

In addition to having a curious nature, Ola Mae enjoys solving the puzzles in a mystery so she always wants a report from River about the current case. She encourages River to keep up the good work in seeking justice for crime victims.

Ola Mae’s sister Valerie is quietly powerful and versatile, drawing on seemingly boundless reserves of strength and grace to move mountains. People say she was once as outgoing as Ola Mae but her bad marriage dampened her spirit.

Collectively, they’re a strong, charismatic team who rally the community to take action when needed. They lead by example, lending their time and talents to various causes.

However, hidden layers in these women have yet to be plumbed. No one questions their motivation for their various causes. No one researches that old rumor about them offing their husbands. No one remarks on the current spending they are doing.

Is it possible that two stone-cold killers are among the most powerful and influential of all island residents? Check out Ola Mae and Valerie in both Seas the Day (book one of the series) and Spawning Suspicion (newly released book two) and see if you can figure out what makes these gals tick.

Learn more about Maggie Toussaint and Spawning Suspicion at maggietoussaint.com.

If you liked this guest post, check out some of my interviews.

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Woods Parkour —a guest post for Bogged Down

November 12, 2020 By Terry Leave a Comment

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Bogged Down by Charlotte Stuart

Woods Parkour

by Charlotte Stuart

Parkour was developed in France and became popular in the 1990s. I knew it existed but I didn’t really pay attention until I saw there was a woods version. The first video I saw of woods parkour had me hooked. Leaping and vaulting over logs and other obstacles while surrounded by forest was something I knew I would never be able to do, but I loved the idea that someone was doing it.

After researching parkour and watching a number of YouTube videos, I was not only entranced by the activity itself but by its mission: Believing in your heart that there is no obstacle in life that cannot be overcome. It’s not that I actually believe anything is possible, but I would like to believe it. Unfortunately, I’m much more pessimistic. Or realistic, depending on your point of view.

Charlotte Stuart, author of Bogged Down

Anyway, since one of the benefits of being an author is that you can live an experience through your characters, I decided to make my protagonist in Bogged Down, Lavender “Lew” Lewis, a woods parkour enthusiast. That actually came after already deciding she was tall and athletic and physically and mentally tough. Woods parkour was a natural add-on. Especially because I had Lew living in a semi-rural setting in a cabin bordering on a wooded area. 

Simply put, the goal of parkour involves getting from one point to another by the most direct route. It may involve running, climbing, jumping, swinging, vaulting – whatever is needed to complete the unstructured activity where none of the moves are planned in advance. No wonder it’s been described as a non-competitive sport that “turns the world into a playground.

Woods parkour is similar to inner city parkour in some ways, but it has its own special appeal and challenges. The forest stimulates your senses in subtle, primal ways, and the obstacles are less predictable, not always what they seem to be at first glance. A log may be rotten, a tree limb unstable, a rock hidden beneath leaves. An animal can startle with a sudden appearance. A meandering stream may require a last-minute recalculation. Woods parkour constantly demands that you see your environment in a fresh and sensitive way, imagining how you can navigate over, under, around or through a forest’s unique features.

In addition, the woods changes with the sun’s passage across the sky, light slowly fading as it filters through the trees, creating shadows, gradually changing a color photo to a grainy monochrome.

Although Lew uses woods parkour for pleasurable exercise in Bogged Down (A Vashon Island Mystery), it also helps her with other activities. For example, there are several scenes in which Lew is in the woods at night. She is able to navigate through the tangle of trees and debris much more efficiently because of time spent in the woods maneuvering around and over obstacles as part of her parkour training. 

In conclusion, Vashon Island has some wonderful woodlands. If I were athletic enough to embrace the challenge of woods parkour, I can’t think of a better place for it. Meanwhile, I will continue to live vicariously through Lew’s love of and ability to engage in this forest playground activity.

Learn more about Charlotte Stuart and Bogged Down at www.charlottestuart.com. If you liked this guest post, If you liked this guest post, check out some of my author interviews.

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Guest Post for A Waffle Lot of Murder

October 8, 2020 By Terry 10 Comments

Ending One Chapter and Beginning Another by Lena Gregory

In the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series, Gia Morelli leaves everything she knows to move from New York to central Florida, and she has a tough time adjusting.

Some people find moving on easy, but I’ve never been one of those people. I always find ending one part of my life and moving on to another difficult and filled with anxiety and stress. Career changes, moving to a new home, even a new vacation destination all bring both excitement and dread. It doesn’t seem to matter whether I enjoyed what I was doing, the idea of leaving the known for the unknown is near panic-inducing.

I started taking dance lessons when I was four years old. I danced six days a week and student taught all through my teenage years. When I left high school it only seemed natural to start work as a dance teacher. My daughter played in a playpen through dance classes, recitals and competitions, until she was old enough to dance. When she turned eight, she left dance in favor of sports; soccer, basketball, lacrosse, track, softball… You name it, she played it. My middle son, who was two at the time, couldn’t take being at the studio. The noise of the music, the kids talking, tap shoes, all overwhelmed him to the point of tears.

Not wanting to miss my daughter’s games, and unable to comfort my son (he was later diagnosed on the autistic spectrum) I had no choice but to leave the only thing I knew how to do, something I’d trained my whole life for. I needed a career that would allow me to work during the day but still be available for my son to receive therapy five days a week, so I started cleaning houses, which I didn’t love but didn’t hate either. Plus, it allowed me the freedom to be available for my children which was more important to me than anything else. 

Eventually, when my daughter started high school and my son was older, my daughter joined the drama club, in addition to all the sports. When a position opened up as a co-director and choreographer for the musicals, I jumped on it. Once again, I was doing what I loved. 

Then my daughter graduated and my youngest was born, and there was no way I could keep working at night, so once again I was faced with the dreaded career change. This time I asked myself, “What would I love to do?” Easy. Write a book. So I did. Now I’m fortunate enough to do what I love while still being available to my children. 

I guess the most important thing I often forget is, when one chapter ends, another begins. Sometimes, you can revisit a chapter you were particularly fond of for a while. And sometimes a new chapter is even better than the last.

Learn more about Lena Gregory at lenagregory.com.

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