Terry Ambrose

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

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The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

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The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

Dorothy St. James is the pen name for award-winning author, Dorothy McFalls. Dorothy writes in several different genres. The Broken Spine is the first in her Beloved Bookroom Mystery series.

Warring worlds

“The Broken Spine explores the tension between living in the digital world and the analog world,” Dorothy said. “My heroine, Trudell Becket loves her library so much that when it’s being converted into a ‘bookless’ library she does something outrageous. She opens a secret ‘bookroom’ in the basement of the library where she works. The bookroom is a throwback to libraries of another era with a card catalog and book slips for checking out the books. Change can be difficult, painful. In the case of the changes coming to the Cypress library, that change is murder.”

Do bookless libraries exist?

“I read an article about a bookless library opening in Texas. It got me to thinking about how I would feel if my library went completely digital. I read mainly digital books, and yet the thought of the books leaving my local library made me feel anxious. I wouldn’t want that to happen. I then started to play ‘what if’ games in my head. What if I were a librarian in that library? What would I do? I far would I go to save those books?”

Dorothy St James, author of The Broken Spine

Dorothy said she wants prospective readers to know that she’s not against technology. “I love all the new gadgets. I don’t know what I’d do without my smart phone. But at the same time, I’m a nut when it comes to books. I have such lovely childhood memories from my time spent at the library. My daughter adores going to the library to find treasures to read. She rarely goes in with a book in mind. She simply wanders around in the stacks and picks up anything that appeals to her. This isn’t something she could do online.”

Oh, and for those who truly have inquiring minds, Dorothy said, “I love cats! I hate cooking.”

Learning about libaries

Dorothy said that one of the problem she faced in writing this series is that she’s not a librarian, nor has she been through the training and education librarians undergo for their work. “This was a problem since my protagonist, Trudell Becket is (in addition to being an amazing sleuth) the assistant librarian of the Cypress library. While I did have extensive experience working in government, I knew that it wasn’t quite the same thing. To write this series, I needed to get into the minds of local librarians.” Fortunately for Dorothy, she learned that librarians love to share their knowledge.

“I love to research my books. Sometimes I must remind myself to stop researching and start writing already. For the White House Gardener Mystery series, I stalked secret service agents through Lafayette Park at three AM in the morning to see how difficult it would be to murder someone there. (It’s possible.) For the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries series, I learned how to make my own chocolate from cacao beans. I also tasted many, many different types of chocolates in the name of research. While writing books for that series, I always eat some chocolate before sitting down at the computer because…research.”

For the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series, Dorothy took part in many of her local library’s activities. She joined tai chi classes, took sewing classes, art classes, attended plays, and author talks. “I was amazed at how libraries are changing. They’re becoming vibrant community centers that also have books.”

Learn more about Dorothy St. James and The Broken Spine at www.dorothystjames.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

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Friday Fotos – Auckland skyline at sunset

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Auckland skyline at sunset
This was our view at dinner as we sailed out of Auckland. Normally, I wouldn’t shoot through glass, but the view was too good to pass up.

Ordinarily, shooting photos through glass just isn’t my thing. But, when you’re in the dining room of a cruise ship and the food’s about to arrive, that is definitely not the time to leave your wife at the table to try for a better Auckland skyline photo. As a result, there are some orange streaks reflected by the glass. The great thing was that I still got to enjoy dinner, didn’t get myself in the dog house, and got this Auckland skyline photo. What could better?

Want to see more photos from our trip? Here’s a link where you can check out all the entries in our travel journal.

Artistic License to Kill by Paula Darnell

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Artistic License to Kill by Paula Darnell

From the publisher of Artistic License to Kill

Artist Amanda Trent, accompanied by her beloved golden retriever Laddie and her persnickety calico cat Mona Lisa, is determined to start a new life after her husband divorces her to marry a younger woman, but it isn’t easy.

After a disastrous interview at the prestigious Roadrunner Gallery in Lonesome Valley, Arizona, far away from her previous home in Kansas City, Amanda’s afraid that she’ll fail at her new career. But her prospects begin to improve when she’s accepted as the newest member of the cooperative gallery.

Then, on her very first day, she discovers Janice, the stern director, has been murdered right in the art gallery, and the Roadrunner’s members, including Amanda herself, become suspects. Which gallery member murdered the unpopular director? Or was the killer an outsider with an ax to grind?

My review

This craft-centric mystery focuses more on the world of crafts than the mystery. If that’s your thing, this is a good fit. Amanda is a likable protagonist. She’s just getting settled in a new place—both personally and professionally. As a result, there’s plenty going on. The story moves quickly, partially because of the writing style and partially because it’s short. At just over 200 pages, Artistic License to Kill is a fast read with little to slow it down.

The dialogue is realistic and descriptions are concise, which made it easy to stay involved in the story. While Amanda was never overly pushy about her sleuthing, she did turn up clues that ultimately led to the killer. I found it a bit difficult to suspend disbelief when Amanda had to escape the killer’s trap, but this fun read moved quickly and kept me entertained until the end.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

Learn more about Paula Darnell at pauladarnellauthor.com.. Do you like author interviews? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

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Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander

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Crime Scene Connection by Deena Alexander

Deena Alexander grew up on the south shore of eastern Long Island. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. Crime Scene Connection is her debut novel in the romantic suspense genre.

Faith and forgiveness

“My family and my faith are the two most important things in my life,” Deena said. “I write books about Christian characters who must depend on their faith to see them through the most trying of situations, while they struggle to find courage and strength within themselves. Family is also important to my characters, and they often put themselves in danger to save those they love.”

Though Deena feels it’s not always easy to forgive those who’ve hurt us, it’s often easier than forgiving ourselves. “In Crime Scene Connection, Addison Keller is on the run. She doesn’t know who to rely on for help; a stranger who pretty much despises her for sins she didn’t commit, a sister who’s been estranged for years after interfering in Addison’s marriage, or herself. While forgiving herself may prove to be too difficult, Addison knows she’s got to find a way or the guilt may just cause her to make a deadly mistake.”

A change in plans

Deena Alexander - Crime Scene Connection

“My husband works for the railroad, and I was thinking of writing a book about a terrorist attack on a railroad. I figured he’d be the perfect source of any information I needed. Unfortunately, the idea of someone using information I provided to actually attack a railroad kept me from writing the story. So, I started thinking, what would happen if a killer recreated the scenes from a novel, then challenged the author to try to find him before he could kill her?”

Deena said she loved the idea for Crime Scene Connection, but had a hard time getting it just right. “Often when writing a book, I just sit down and write the story from beginning to end, then give it a good round of edits before sending it off to my agent or publisher. I rewrote Crime Scene Connection at least nine times before being offered a contract from Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense. The record before that was a book I’d rewritten three times before it was picked up for publication.”

A cozy in the works?

“I think the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done for research was in preparation for a cozy mystery I haven’t written yet, based on a small antique village. I visited a place on Long Island with my kids called Barntique Village. At the time, my kids were twenty-eight, twenty, and eight, so it was difficult to find things all of them enjoyed, but we had a great time that day. My daughter and her husband loved looking at old antique bottles among other things, my younger two loved all the retro video game things, and I found a beautiful desk and several old typewriters—that sure brought back memories. Overall, it was a very enjoyable, fun day, and I’m looking forward to writing that story.”

Learn more about Deena Alexander at deenaalexander.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

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Friday Fotos – Spitfire display at Auckland War Memorial

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Spitfire airplane inside Auckland War Memorial
The War Memorial in Auckland was a must see for us on our trip, but we never expected to see entire airplanes inside the building. This Spitfire was lowered through the roof and into a special room on the top floor of the memorial.

We expected the Auckland War Memorial to be an amazing place, and it fully lived up to those expectations. The most sobering time spent viewing the Spitfire display at the memorial was at the Roll of Honour, on which the names of New Zealand’s fallen soldiers are engraved. At one point, I simply sat and listened to the silence in the giant hall.

That mood changed to one of awe, however, when we entered the exhibit containing a Spitfire display. I found myself comparing the Spitfire, and its counterpart, the Japanese Zero, to today’s jets with their high-tech gadgetry. While there’s no comparison in terms of flying or fighting capabilities, the bravery of the men who flew those airplanes is equal in every way to that of today’s pilots. Which is why the Roll of Honour, with its thousands of names, lives on as a reminder of our past and the tragedy of war.

Want to see more photos from our trip? Here’s a link where you can check out all the entries in our travel journal. Learn more about the Auckland War Memorial at aucklandmuseum.com.

Review of Saint Vandal’s Day by D.E. Haggerty

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Saint Vandal's Day by D.E. Haggerty

From the publisher of Saint Vandal’s Day

St. Valentine’s Day is THE perfect day for a wedding. Unless a vandal is trying to ruin your life that is.

Callie is finally getting her dream wedding. On St. Valentine’s Day no less. Only a vandal is determined to destroy her bakery before the wedding can occur. Anna, self-proclaimed best cupcake baker this side of the Mississippi, is not letting anything happen to the cupcake bakery. No way. Barista extraordinaire Kristie jumps at the chance to help as well. Together the three women launch a mission to find the jerk who thinks it’s okay to attack the bakery.

Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes find the vandal and save the cupcake bakery before Callie’s dream wedding is ruined?

Cupcakes not included, although recipes for all the delicious cupcakes Anna bakes are.

My review

Saint Vandal’s Day is a short, entertaining read. Told in first-person, present tense, this novella moves quickly without an overabundance of backstory thrown in. It’s unusual in the mystery genre in that there is no murder. The actual mystery is all about finding whoever is vandalizing Callie’s Cakes.

While the lack of a murder isn’t a deal breaker for me, I didn’t feel the problem to be solved was that compelling—probably because I haven’t read the previous books in the series and never found myself invested in the characters. The characters are certainly entertaining enough, but this is a story in which the plot takes center stage, not the characters.

Overall, I liked the pacing and the storyline and, for anyone who wants a short, purely-for-fun read, this is a winner.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

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