A Novel Talk with Gerri Russell

Co-Hosts Wendy Kendall & Carl Lee enjoy A Novel Talk with Historical Romance Author Gerri Russell about her All The King's Men series, especially her novel Seven Nights With A Scot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naUFCwAgOs4&feature=youtu.be

Laura Childs Spills The Tea In Great New Mystery

Broken Bone ChinaTea Shop Mystery #20
By Laura Childs

Imagine floating in a hot air balloon high above scenic, historic Charleston amid a flying parade of a half dozen others in flight. Theodosia Browning gave it a try and thought this must be the coolest thing she’d ever done. Her long time friend and tea sommelier Drayton Conneley disagreed, deciding it was terrifying. He was about to be proven right. Suddenly a drone narrowly missed them and wildly crashed into another balloon floating next to them, killing three. A terrible accident, or was it intentional?

Scared by their near miss, and concerned about the direction of the investigation under Detective Tidwell, Theodosia finds herself gathering clues and analyzing suspects. It’s a fascinating collection of characters, and a fun puzzle to try your hand solving as you read along and Theodosia shares her clues and observations with you.

While detecting, Theodosia still has the fabulous Indigo Tea Shop to run along with Drayton and also beloved cook and baker Haley. Along with the everyday delicacies and custom tea blends served both in the café and also to-go, special events are routinely scheduled. Delight in reading about the Nancy Drew tea, and be on the alert for suspect activity. Savor the detailed description of the elegant Beaux Arts event as it is planned, decorated, and enjoyed. There are so many tasty tidbits of historical, baking, and tea information for the reader too, as Drayton says at the Beaux Arts Tea, “And now that we’ve got you half-tipsy on tea, champagne, and knowledge, I’d like to introduce our hostess, Miss Theodosia Browning.”

At the end of the book the author shares Haley’s recipes, and a couple from other characters, great ideas for tea parties, and an extensive list of tea resources. Laura Childs is a prolific mystery writer with her multiple series – Scrapbooking Mysteries, Cackleberry Club Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries, Anthologies, and Afton Tangler Thrillers (written as Gerry Schmitt).

You can find more information about the author and her books at Kendall & Cooper Talk Mysteries with Laura Childs. Included in the podcast is an interview at our own friends at  Edmonds Treasures and Teas Shop where a personally blended Laura Childs Mystery Tea was blended and sent to the author. She loved it, of course! Recommend you stop by and try a mystery blend of your own to enjoy while you read. 

Visit Quilcene with Poet Avis M. Adams

QuilceneBy Avis M. Adams

This Poet shares poignant glimpses into the joys, beauty, and struggles of everyday life amidst this rugged, rural setting. The language in this poetry conjures powerful imagery that feeds the imagination with contemplative visions and a captivating energy. The full array of true human emotions lace the lines of these poetic stanzas, each telling its own short story of Quilcene.

Quilcene is an unincorporated community with a population of 596 in the 2010 census, located on the Olympic Peninsula at the head of Quilcene Bay. The wikipedian facts are one thing; the poetry of the people and the place are another, and truly a treat for the reader. Explore the poetry of the childhood delights of a surprise snow; joys of scampering in the great outdoors with beloved pet dogs; the glory of the flora; the contrasting seasons; the love, humor, and pathos of family, and so much more.

This description luxuriates in this excerpt from the poem titled Gracefully Nude which rolls over the tongue when spoken out loud –

“Tinted in shades of sepia, the Cascade

foothills lay behind a brown malaise

that enters lungs on the inhale,

is not exhaled. Clouds rush to embrace

Mount Rainier, a movement her husband

once made toward her. The clouds

loose an abundance of spatters, wet and

large. They married on such a day. . . .”

Local Poet and Author Avis M. Adams is a native of the Pacific Northwest. She lives with her husband on a small farm between Auburn and Black Diamond.  Her poems have won awards and been published online and in literary journals.  She also writes short stories, upper-middle grade novels, and picture books. She teaches as well, and in her spare time she enjoys travel and anything in the great outdoors. Immerse yourself in this collection of Quilcene, published by Finishing Line Press, already in advance sales and the release date is May 19, 2019.

Visit the Eternal White by T. Furuyama

 

Eternal White

By T. Furuyama

“So this is Heaven.” Hershel Byne, a math teacher observes his surroundings as he angrily enters the afterlife. Heartbroken, feeling he was snatched away from loving family and friends before his time, Hershel begins to explore what author T. Furuyama has waiting in the vastness of Eternal White. Is eternal peace as wonderful as its promise? And what of the connection with those left behind? What is to become of them? Can Hershel still help from the invisible beyond?

A glimpse into this man’s life on earth shows a typical father and husband, enjoying the joys and tribulations of raising teenage daughters with his wife, who is the love of his life. His friends are an interesting array of neighbors and acquaintances. He enjoys teaching math to his students. Busy with his life, he spends little time pondering prospects of death other than playing with math puzzles like Pascal’s Wager and Schrödinger’s cat, which he delightfully postulates. Then there is a sudden intrusion of fate.

Hershel’s life is over, and now he is confronted with an emotional journey filled with dangers to the heart and soul. The life stories shared by the people he meets along the way are gripping tales of woe and joy, desperation and love, and it is their experiences that paint the eternity that surrounds each of them. As Ben in Heaven muses, “That’s the thing about being human, we always want what we don’t have; and once we have it, we miss the time when we didn’t.” Hershel is not ready for eternity yet. He has caught a glimpse of trouble ahead for his daughter in the world of the living, and he is determined to do what very few in the Eternal White have ever done. He is determined to find the way to reach out and help her.

This refreshing story mixes a smart, fast-paced action novel with a thought provoking and sometimes emotionally charged exploration of deep life questions. Debates of these tantalizing questions bring on answers that generate even more haunting questions begging for response. You don’t need a background of mathematical study to appreciate this philosophical contemplation about the meaning of life, and questions about God and religions. At times very humorous, at times poignant, author T. Furuyama beautifully writes such very human characters and exciting situations.

Eternal White is this author’s second book. He has a PhD in genetics and conducted high profile research for twenty years. Now he delightfully applies to fiction writing both the magic of science and his awe of the natural world. Hershel’s discoveries will linger in the readers’ thoughts long after the final page. You can find more information about the author and his books at http://www.tfuruyamabooks.com

Author Linda Hope Lee Books Murder Between The Pages

Murder Between The Pages

The Nina Foster Mystery Series
By Linda Hope Lee

Librarian Nina Foster cannot quiet her suspicions and theories when her hometown is shocked by murder. Nina’s concerns prompt her to get her nose out of the books and onto a hot trail of clues. Not so fast though, author Linda Hope Lee has some surprises in store for her protagonist cover to cover, as Nina discovers the dangers of researching Murder Between The Pages.

The town of Richmond, Washington which is a suburb of Seattle, is home to Seaview Library. This idyllic place embraces all aspects of the Arts and is a beautifully described setting right on Puget Sound. The literary community and its supporters are rocked by a murder in their midst. It’s truly a puzzler, and suspects are numerous. The reader has full access to all clues discovered, and information on the array of fascinating characters including their potential motives, opportunities, and means. Can the reader solve the mystery before the Librarian? Can the Librarian solve the mystery despite the life threatening dangers she faces?

The premise of a Librarian amateur sleuth is delightful. The Library is a community center of activities and residents’ interactions. There’s much to be learned. Nina Foster has an interesting background too that often influences her choices and can result in self-imposed difficulties. She has a warm and wonderful relationship with her dear grandmother who has a sparkling personality and among her many interests is a skilled pool player. Nina is also beginning a relationship with Stephen Kraslow, a widower who is a reporter newly moved to Richmond. They are combining forces on the investigation, to the chagrin of the police detective in charge. As Nina reviews her clues at hand with some frustration, Stephen is encouraging, “We’ll continue to keep our eyes and ears open. One thing I’ve learned in this business is that you can’t hurry the answers.” All is revealed in good time.

Author Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and mysteries. Also an artist, her skills working with watercolors, colored pencil, and pen and ink must have influenced the vibrant, detailed descriptions of settings and characters in her writing.

You can find more information about the author and her books at http://www.lindahopelee.com

The Magic of Unicorns A Reading Delight

The Magic of Unicorns

By Gina L. Grandi
Illustrated by Ximena Jeria
 

What an enchanting Field Guide to Fabulous Creatures for the young and the young at heart. The Magic of Unicorns excites the imagination and engages young readers with stories joyfully authored by Gina L. Grandi and filled with delightful artistry by Ximena Jeria. Just open the cover to join this amazing journey around the world discovering unicorns and exploring special secrets about their history, legends, habits, and variety of powers and interests. Along the way you’ll also learn ways to find the magic of unicorns for yourself.

Did you know there are a big variety of unicorns around the world? They all look different and act different, but in their hearts they are each dear creatures with wondrous adventures. Now you can read about some of their incredible escapades. Enthusiastic, compassionate readers will also appreciate the descriptions of nature surrounding unicorns around the world on all kinds of different continents and ecosystems. This book shows not only information about magical unicorns, but also about their companions in nature including birds, insects, mammals, plants, and more.

What is the best way to find unicorns in the world around you? This book suggests some practical ideas and activities that may just attract one of these elusive creatures to you. As the author says, “the world might look ordinary, but there could be something unexpected and wondrous just around the corner.”

The text of this book is readable by elementary age readers. But I also encourage adults to seek opportunities to read this book out loud with children, enjoy the gorgeous pictures, and ignite everyone’s imagination together.

The author, Gina L. Grandi is also a teacher and theatre professor who shares her passion for these magical, mysterious creatures and their mystical powers. She has taught elementary and high school students, and is a self-proclaimed Unicorn Scholar.

Ximena Jeria grew up expressing herself through illustration and treats us to such fun pictures throughout this wonderful book. She studied graphic design at the University of Valparaiso, Chile and has worked for many publishers and design agencies both in Chile and abroad. It’s so apparent how much Ximena loves drawing. As she says, “I am also bilingual (Spanish and English), and I guess drawing was my third language, one that summed up what I really wanted to say.”

Enjoy this book with a friend, and remember to celebrate National Unicorn Day on April 9^th – or go ahead and celebrate every day. “Unicorn magic will bring you luck and happiness. Even if you haven’t seen one . . . yet.”

Intriguing Quest on Sara Stamey's Islands

IslandsBy Sara Stamey

“Just a touch of turbulence, folks. Buckle up.” Maybe archeologist Susan Dunne should have heard the pilot’s voice over the speaker as a larger warning, about what lay ahead of her on the Islands of the Caribbean. Curl up with a hot mystery that’s set in a sunny, tourist mecca. Join this Pacific Northwest scientist as she digs deep into the culture, the history, and the motives of current residents, within this garden paradise.

No stranger to investigating mysteries, Susan Dunne specializes in discovering and researching clues to discovering ancient petroglyphs and their associated history. These are boulders and rocks with primitive carvings. An intriguing dimension that enhances their allure is that many of the carved designs which are found worldwide are surprisingly similar. Susan is working on a theory and wants to consult with an anthropologist who was last reported to be hiding out in the Caribbean. She is on the hunt to find him and her search turns up some unexpected and ominous results.

But Susan also holds a secret of her own, the last letter from her dear brother. He recently drowned while living on this island as he was diving for treasure at a sunken ship that’s guarded by legendary voodoo, Jumbies, and a bloodthirsty cult. Susan wants to solve the mystery surrounding his death. She unlocks some most disturbing secrets and will need to face fears of her own in order to try and stop evil from overtaking her.

The history, legends, and culture of the Caribbean are integrated delightfully within this suspenseful story. The characters and their passionate motivations are artfully revealed throughout the course of the plot. Descriptions of the luscious setting, both above and below waters, during adventurous scuba dive explorations, are to be savored.

The author, Sara Stamey wrote an early draft of Islands when she was living in the Caribbean, working as a scuba instructor and guide. She originally wrote the book as a stand-alone novel. At the end she felt that the characters had more to tell, so she started a sequel set in Belize and Guatemala, where she has also spent time. Sara’s journeys include treasure hunting, backpacking worldwide, operating a nuclear reactor at Hanford, and owning a farm in Southern Chile. Returning to her home town in the Pacific Northwest, she taught creative writing at Western Washington University for several years.

This author has several other exciting books as well, including her most recent The Ariadne Connection which is a Science Fiction thriller.